United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 11 Biology
An intensive exploration of biological principles from the molecular level to entire ecosystems. Students examine the mechanisms of inheritance, the complexity of human homeostasis, and the urgent challenges facing global biodiversity.
01Cellular Energetics and Bioenergetics
Investigating how organisms harness and transform energy through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration.
Introducing photosynthesis as the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy, focusing on the overall equation and its importance.
Investigating the structure of chloroplasts and the role of chlorophyll in absorbing light energy for photosynthesis.
Analyzing the limiting factors of photosynthesis and how plants optimize glucose production for growth.
Exploring aerobic respiration as the process of releasing energy from glucose in the presence of oxygen, focusing on its overall equation and where it occurs.
Investigating how the body's demand for energy changes during exercise and the role of aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
Comparing the biochemical pathways of energy release and the physiological effects of oxygen debt in humans.
Exploring the role of enzymes and energy in the synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.
Investigating the fundamental differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and the functions of key organelles.
Exploring the process of mitosis and its importance for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction.
Investigating how cells become specialized and the potential applications and ethical considerations of stem cell research.
Exploring the passive movement of substances across cell membranes, including diffusion and osmosis.
02Homeostasis and Response
Examining how the body maintains a constant internal environment through nervous and hormonal control systems.
Introducing the concept of homeostasis, negative feedback loops, and the importance of maintaining internal conditions.
Investigating how nerve impulses are transmitted along neurons and across synapses.
Investigating the mechanics of reflex arcs and their importance for rapid, involuntary responses.
Exploring the major endocrine glands, the hormones they produce, and their target organs.
Analyzing the endocrine system's role in blood glucose regulation and the impact of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
Investigating how the body maintains a stable internal temperature and water balance.
Exploring the hormonal control of the menstrual cycle and gamete production.
Discussing the ethical dimensions of fertility treatments and contraception.
Investigating how plants respond to stimuli, focusing on tropisms and the role of auxins.
Exploring the structure and function of the human eye and how it detects light to form images.
Investigating the structure and function of the human ear and how it detects sound.
03Inheritance, Variation, and Evolution
Decoding the genome and understanding the mechanisms that drive the diversity of life on Earth.
Investigating the double helix structure of DNA and the process of semi-conservative replication.
Exploring the relationship between genes, chromosomes, and DNA as the carriers of genetic information.
Investigating the process of transcription where DNA is used as a template to synthesize mRNA.
Exploring the process of translation where mRNA codons are used to assemble amino acids into proteins.
Using Punnett squares and pedigree charts to predict the outcomes of monohybrid crosses and inherited disorders.
Exploring common genetic disorders, their inheritance patterns, and methods of genetic screening.
Investigating the principles and applications of genetic modification, including CRISPR technology.
Exploring Darwin's theory and the evidence for evolution through the fossil record and antibiotic resistance.
Investigating the processes by which new species arise and the importance of maintaining biodiversity.
Exploring the process of meiosis and how it generates genetic variation in sexually reproducing organisms.
Investigating different types of mutations and their potential impact on an organism's phenotype.
04Ecology and Biodiversity
Analyzing the interactions within ecosystems and the impact of human activity on the biosphere.
Studying the flow of energy and the cycling of nutrients through biotic and abiotic components.
Analyzing energy transfer through trophic levels and the efficiency of ecological pyramids.
Investigating factors affecting population size and methods for estimating populations in the field.
Assessing how pollution, land use, and global warming are driving the current extinction crisis.
Examining different types of pollution (air, water, land) and their biological consequences.
Investigating the causes and consequences of global warming on ecosystems and species distribution.
Evaluating strategies for protecting biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource use.
Evaluating methods to feed a growing population while minimizing environmental degradation.
Investigating the movement of carbon through the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms.
Exploring the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
05Disease and Bio-Security
Understanding the nature of pathogens and the sophisticated defenses of the human immune system.
Classifying viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi and their mechanisms of infection.
Exploring the causes, risk factors, and prevention of non-infectious diseases like heart disease and cancer.
Investigating the body's physical and chemical barriers and the innate immune response.
Detailing the roles of different types of white blood cells in the body's immune response, including phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Exploring the principles of vaccination, herd immunity, and global health challenges.
Investigating the action of antibiotics and the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
Exploring the rigorous process of testing new medicines from laboratory to clinical trials.
Investigating common plant diseases, their causes, and how plants defend themselves.
Exploring the production and applications of monoclonal antibodies in diagnosis and treatment.
Investigating the principles of epidemiology and factors influencing the spread of infectious diseases.
Exploring the importance of personal hygiene and public health measures in preventing disease.
06Practical Biology and Synoptic Review
Consolidating laboratory skills and connecting themes across the entire biology specification.
Developing practical skills in using light microscopes and preparing biological specimens.
Refining the ability to identify variables, reduce uncertainty, and evaluate experimental validity.
Practicing effective methods for collecting, recording, and presenting biological data.
Applying mathematical tools to interpret biological data, including mean, median, and standard deviation.