King Edward VI Shakespeare's School | Stratford-upon-Avon

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The Biology Department strives to inspire all of our students with the wonder and complexity of life at all levels from the genome to ecosystems.

All students take Biology to GCSE with it being a popular choice at A-Level, the AQA course is followed at both levels. Teaching is carried out by three specialist staff and is supported by a dedicated technician. Every year students continue with Life Sciences to University level as well as many related subjects. Experimental work is frequently used to enable our students to develop their understanding of Biology, establish sound laboratory techniques and promote independent investigative and analytical skills. Teaching takes place in two Biology laboratories. These are fully equipped, enabling a wide range of practical work to be completed by students of all ages. The department offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities; including Journal Club, Medical Society and Gardening Cub. For each year group there are dedicated enrichment events that help to deepen our students’ engagement with the subject including rat dissections, DNA necklaces, brine shrimp investigations and the Biology in Action event at Warwick University. In recent years students have also participated in the Biology Olympiad for Sixth Form and Biology Challenge for GCSE year groups, achieving a number of gold awards. We aim to support students as much as possible to achieve their goals; there is a Biology Clinic on Friday lunchtimes for year 11-13 and our Moodle page is regularly updated to ensure students are well resourced for their studies. There is a week’s Field Trip to Snowdonia for Sixth Form Biologists.