• Paper 2 (35 per cent of A-level) This covers energy transfers in and between organisms, how organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems, the control of gene expression and relevant practical skills • Paper 3 (30 per cent of A-level) Any topic from paper 1 or paper 2, and relevant practical skills. This paper also contains a 25 mark essay The programme involves a residential field course which allows pupils to undertake investigative sampling techniques across a range of ecosystems. The course will provide hands on experience for a number of the AQA required practicals and the opportunity to demonstrate progression in their practical competency
people, so knowledge of motivational theory will help you to work well with others and help them achieve their potential. You might have ambitious plans to start your own business. If that is the case, you will find the marketing and finance topics particularly useful. How will I be examined? Business A-level assessment consists of three two-hour written exams taken at the end of the two year course. Each exam is worth a third of the A-level. All three papers draw on material from the whole course and feature a range of question styles including multiple choice questions, short answer questions, essay questions, data response questions and case studies.
Mr R H Phillips Head of Business & Economics
Mrs R N Cooke Head of Biology
Business
Chemistry
What is the subject about? Business is practical, applied and exciting. It studies
What is the subject about? Chemistry is the study of substances, what they are made of, how they interact and what role they play in living things. From the moment you are born until you die, you are surrounded by chemistry: in the air you breathe, the food you eat and the clothes you wear. Without the advancement of chemical science, we would have no plastics, no synthetic fibres and no fuels for cars or planes. Many lives would be lost without the chemical technology that has brought us medicines or allowed us to treat contaminated water in developing countries. The primary aim of studying chemistry is to stimulate us to think about the world around us and understand the properties of the materials within it. By studying the subject to an advanced level, you will improve your problem solving skills, apply your mathematical ability and develop precision in working with your hands. In dealing with potentially harmful substances, chemists learn to take responsibility for themselves and the welfare of others. Why might I choose to study chemistry at A-level? Careers in chemistry are everywhere: a knowledge of chemistry will give you a greater understanding of the world you live in and could lead to a career which is exciting and enjoyable with lots of variety and opportunities. Chemistry is a mathematical science and works well as a complementary choice to maths and any of the other sciences. You should consider A-level Chemistry if you are interested in a career as a chemist, doctor, veterinary scientist, pharmacist, dentist, biochemist, food scientist, chemical engineer or in accountancy, banking, law, pharmacology, chemical research, analytical work, process control, quality control, the environment etc. How will I be examined? We will follow the AQA Specification (7405). The content is split into three teaching modules, examined in three two-hour papers:
organisations and how they operate within their environment. The course involves looking in detail at how businesses carry out their various functions such as finance, human resources management, marketing and operations management. The course also looks at how outside agencies, such as the government and pressure groups, affect the behaviour of businesses. It makes you think about business critically, examining both favourable and unfavourable aspects. The A-level business course introduces you to all you need to know about working in business, providing a solid foundation for further study. With a focus on helping you to become a good decision maker, you’ll learn essential managerial skills, alongside techniques to help you become an analytical problem solver. These skills are all highly sought after and valued in a wide range of careers. Why might I choose to study business at A-level? The particular attraction of business is that, although it is an academic course, it is also a practical and relevant subject. It is helpful both in a career sense by developing skills and specific interests and can also provide a useful basis for degrees in business management. It combines well with any combination of A-level subjects. By laying the foundations of business in a way which focuses on the uses and application of ideas and theories, you will be better equipped to relate the content of your studies to your eventual working life. The material covered and the relationships which are built up through the course will help you to understand how industry and commerce function within the economy. The new A-level has an increased amount of numerical content and therefore a reasonable grade (at least a 6) at GCSE mathematics will help. If you are unsure about the mathematical element please do speak to the members of staff in the department. Further study and career opportunities If you would like to study business, finance or management at university, A-level business provides an excellent foundation. The skills you learn are also transferable across a broad range of subjects and careers. Whatever you choose to do in the future, you will find that the things you learn in this course will help. For example, you’ll probably work with lots of different
• Module 1 – Physical and Inorganic Chemistry (35 per cent of A-level)
This looks at atomic structure, chemical calculations including the mole, bonding, energetics including calorimetry, Hess’s Law and Born Haber cycles, kinetics, chemical equilibria including Kc and Kp calculations, acid-base equilibria, electrode potentials and electrochemical cells
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