BIOLOGY

 NATIONAL 5 BIOLOGY (SCQF Level 5)

The National 5 Biology course allows candidates to understand and investigate the living world in an engaging and enjoyable way. It develops candidates’ abilities to think analytically, creatively and independently, and to make reasoned evaluations. The course provides opportunities for candidates to acquire and apply knowledge to evaluate biological issues, assess risk, make informed decisions and develop an ethical view of complex issues. Candidates are able to develop their communication, collaborative working and leadership skills, and are able to apply critical thinking in new and unfamiliar contexts to solve problems.

The purpose of the National 5 Biology course is to develop candidates’ interest and enthusiasm for biology in a range of contexts. The skills of scientific inquiry and investigation are developed, throughout the course, by investigating the applications of biology. This enables candidates to become scientifically literate citizens, able to review the science-based claims they meet.

The course content includes the following key areas of biology, across three units of work:

Cell biology
The key areas covered are: cell structure; transport across cell membranes; DNA and the production of proteins; proteins; genetic engineering; respiration.

Biology: multicellular organisms
The key areas covered are: producing new cells; control and communication; reproduction; variation and inheritance; transport systems – plants; transport systems – animals; absorption of materials.

Biology: life on Earth
The key areas covered are: ecosystems; distribution of organisms; photosynthesis; energy in ecosystems; food production; evolution of species.

Course Assessments
The course consists of 24 SCQF credit points which includes time for preparation for course assessment. The notional length of time for a candidate to complete the course is 160 hours.

Component	Marks	Scaled mark	Duration	% of Overall Grade
Component 1: question paper	100	n/a	2 hours and 30 minutes	80
Component 2: assignment	20	25	8 hours of which a maximum of 1 hour and 30 minutes is allowed for the written report.	20

 

Internal Assessment
Learners will engage with a range of different styles of assessment opportunities which will provide learners with informative feedback on their learning journey to support learner progress.

 

HIGHER BIOLOGY (SCQF Level 6)

The Higher Biology course gives candidates the opportunity to understand and investigate the living world in an engaging and enjoyable way. It develops candidates’ abilities to think analytically, creatively and independently, and to make reasoned evaluations. The course provides opportunities for candidates to acquire and apply knowledge to evaluate biological issues, assess risk, make informed decisions and develop an ethical view of complex issues. Candidates are able to develop their communication, collaborative working and leadership skills, and are able to apply critical thinking in new and unfamiliar contexts to solve problems.

Experimental and investigative approaches are used to develop learners’ knowledge.

The course content includes the following areas of biology:

DNA and the genome
The key areas covered are: structure of DNA, replication of DNA, gene expression, cellular differentiation, the structure of the genome, mutations, evolution, genomic sequencing

Metabolism and survival
The key areas covered are: metabolic pathways, cellular respiration, metabolic rate, metabolism in conformers and regulators, metabolism and adverse conditions, environmental control of metabolism, genetic control of metabolism

Sustainability and interdependence
The key areas covered are:  food supply, plant growth and productivity, plant and animal breeding, crop protection, animal welfare, symbiosis, social behaviour, components of biodiversity, threats to biodiversity

Course Assessment
The course consists of 24 SCQF credit points which includes time for preparation for course assessment. The notional length of time for candidates to complete the course is 160 hours.

The course assessment has three components.

Component	Marks	Scaled mark	Duration	% of Overall Grade
Question paper 1: multiple choice	25	not applicable	40 minutes	80
Question paper 2	95	not applicable	2 hours and 20 minutes
Assignment	20	30	8 hours of which a maximum of 2 hours is allowed for the reporting stage	20

Internal Assessment
Learners will engage with a range of different styles of assessment opportunities which will provide learners with informative feedback on their learning journey to support learner progress.

ADVANCED HIGHER BIOLOGY (SCQF Level 7)

The Advanced Higher Biology course is based on the integrative ideas and unifying principles of modern biological science. It covers key aspects of life science at the molecular scale and extends to aspects of the biology of whole organisms that are among the major driving forces of evolution.

The course aims to develop a sound theoretical understanding and practical experience of experimental investigative work in biological science. It further develops candidates’ abilities to think analytically, creatively and independently, and to make reasoned evaluations. Learners can develop their communication, collaborative working and leadership skills, and can apply critical thinking in new and unfamiliar contexts to solve problems.

The course is suitable for learners who are secure in their attainment of Higher Biology. It is designed for candidates who can respond to a level of challenge, especially those considering further study or a career in biology and related disciplines. The course emphasises practical and experiential learning opportunities, with a strong skills based approach to learning.

Advanced Higher Biology covers the following three units of work:

Cells and proteins. The key areas covered are: laboratory techniques for biologists; proteins; membrane proteins; communication and signalling; protein control of cell division.

Organisms and evolution. The key areas covered are: field techniques for biologists; evolution; variation and sexual reproduction; sex and behaviour; parasitism.

Investigative biology. The key areas covered are: scientific principles and process; experimentation; reporting and critical evaluation of biological research.

Course Assessment

This course consists of 32 SCQF credit points, which includes time for preparation for course assessment. The notional length of time for candidates to complete the course is 160 hours.

The course assessment has two components.

Component Marks	Marks	Scaled mark	Duration	% of Overall Grade
Component 1: Question paper	100	120	3 hours	75
Component 2: project	30	40	In line with SQA deadline	25

Internal Assessment
Learners will engage with a range of different styles of assessment opportunities which will provide learners with informative feedback on their learning journey to support learner progress.

SKILLS FOR WORK: HEALTH SECTOR NATIONAL 5 (SCQF level 5)

The health sector is seen as a growth industry across Scotland, offering a wide variety of employment opportunities at a range of levels. The NHS is a major employer in Scotland and currently employs over 160,000 people. The demands placed on the NHS are increasing, through changes in demographics combined with an ageing workforce.

Scotland has one of the largest life sciences industries in Europe, with a worldwide reputation, particularly in research and development and manufacturing. The growing life sciences industry currently employs over 30,000 people in a wide variety of job roles.

Learners who complete the course may be able to progress into further education, training and employment.

The course comprises the following units:

Health Sector: Working in Health Sector Settings (National 5)
This unit introduces learners to the range and diversity of careers in the health sector, in both clinical and non-clinical roles. Learners carry out an investigation into the roles and responsibilities of clinical and non-clinical job roles, the diversity of career opportunities available, and the health and safety responsibilities of employers and employees. Learners carry out a risk assessment in health sector settings. They also take part in a practical activity to demonstrate customer care skills in a clinical or non-clinical role.

Health Sector: Employability Skills in the Health Sector (National 5)
This unit prepares learners for employment, further education or training by helping them to produce their own CV for a specific job role in the health sector. Learners participate in a mock interview for a specific job role to help them develop knowledge and understanding of the world of work.

The unit also focuses on the employability skills and attitudes that health sector employers most value. Learners reflect on and evaluate their own employability skills, and record their progress throughout the unit.

Health Sector: Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals (National 5)
This unit introduces learners to how medical devices and technology contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of a specified medical condition or illness. Learners also investigate the use of pharmaceutical products.

Health Sector: Improving Health and Well-being (National 5)
This unit focuses on team working. It introduces learners to the wide range of options available from the health sector to help tackle current health and lifestyle issues that affect health sector workers. They learn about the impacts of workplace stress, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Learners also carry out research and give advice in relation to the promotion of health.

Health Sector: Physiology of the Cardiovascular System (National 5)
This unit introduces learners to the structure and function of the cardiovascular system. Learners take part in a practical activity that helps them to develop knowledge and skills in taking physiological measurements at different activity levels. Learners also take part in another activity to learn how to demonstrate current first aid procedures to provide basic life support to an adult casualty.

Core Skills
Learners who achieve this course get automatic certification for:
Complete Core Skill(s) Problem Solving at SCQF level 4 Core Skill component(s)
Critical Thinking at SCQF level 4 Working Co-operatively with Others at SCQF level 4

Course Assessment
To achieve the award of National 5 Health Sector: Skills for Work, learners must achieve all the required units. These are internally assessed

HUMAN BODY STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION (SCQF level 8)

This course is delivered in partnership with West College Scotland Paisley Campus.

Course Content

Outcome 1. Describe and explain the physiological control of the human body by the nervous and endocrine systems.
Outcome 2. Describe and explain the physiology of the musculoskeletal system.
Outcome 3. Describe and explain the physiology of the cardiovascular system.
Outcome 4. Describe and explain the dual role of the respiratory and excretory systems in maintaining homeostasis.
Outcome 5. Describe and explain the physiology of the digestive system.
Outcome 6. Perform practical experiments related to physiology.

https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/files/hn/H92C35.pdf

 

Course Assessment

Outcomes 1-5
Learners will sit an assessment for each outcome. The assessment will sample 3 of the 4 Knowledge and/or Skills items. Learners will not have prior knowledge of which items are being assessed.

Outcome 6 Assessment
Learners will perform a minimum of two assessed practical experiments, the content of which will be related to Outcomes 1–5.

Learners must report one of the two practical experiments by production of a full laboratory report.

Course Requirements
Places on this course are limited. To be considered for this course learners must have consistently high levels of attainment in Higher Biology achieving an A award in the Higher Biology SQA exam.

This course runs from August until April.