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Calderglen High School

Biology (Bith-eòlas)

Biology Department and Staff

Welcome to the Biology Department!

Biology is the study of life in all its variety — from the microscopic world of cells and DNA to the vast ecosystems of Scotland and beyond. In our department, we aim to spark curiosity, promote scientific thinking, and inspire a lifelong appreciation for the living world.

 

  • Miss V. Muir (Faculty Head of Biology and Science)
  • Miss Aitchison (Head of House (Lewis))
  • Miss G. Ross
  • Mrs T. Cocozza
  • Mrs D. Russell
  • Miss L. Reade

Why Choose Biology?

Biology is one of the most dynamic, rapidly evolving, and practical sciences a pupil can choose. Unlike subjects that deal purely in abstract concepts, Biology explains the living world pupils interact with every single day.

 

  • Real-World Relevance: Explains global issues like climate change, disease control, genetics, and biodiversity conservation.

  • Personal Health Literacy: Unlocks how the human body works, allowing pupils to make informed health choices and evaluate scientific claims.

  • Transferable Skills: Builds high-value skills in data analysis, critical thinking, experimental design, and communication.

  • Diverse Career Pathways: Serves as a gateway to healthcare, veterinary science, biotechnology, environmental management, and sports science.

  • Strong Subject Combinations: Integrates with Chemistry, Geography, Physical Education, and Psychology.

Supporting Learning at Home!

Parents and carers play a vital role in pupil achievement. You can support your young person's progress by:

  • Checking Google Classroom or Achieve regularly for assignments and homework, as well as revision resources.
  • Encouraging structured revision using Qualification Scotland (QS) past papers and marking schemes as assessments approach.
  • Ensuring that pupils attend supported study sessions that are on offer by the Science Department. 
  • Ensure they arrive at science lessons with their materials, stationery and a calculator. Encourage your child to bring their scientific calculator to every science lesson—relying on mobile phones is not permitted in class or exams.

National 4 Biology

National 4 Biology offers a practical, hands-on exploration of the living world. Designed for pupils developing their scientific inquiry and laboratory skills, this course builds a solid foundation in key biological concepts through active learning, experimentation, and real-world problem-solving.

 

The course is divided into three engaging units:

  • Cell Biology: The fundamental building blocks of life, cell structure, DNA, enzymes, respiration, and how cell division enables growth and repair.
  • Multicellular Organisms: How plants and animals function, covering reproduction, body systems, genetics, and responses to changing environments.
  • Life on Earth: Ecosystems, biodiversity, food webs, human impact on the environment, and the essential natural cycles that sustain life.

 

The National 4 Biology course will be internally assessed by teachers and will not require pupils to sit an external exam set by Qualifications Scotland (QS).  Pupils will be credited for the units they achieve and their success will be recognised and certificated.

National 5 Biology

National 5 Biology is an engaging, fast-paced course that deepens pupils' understanding of the living world. National 5 equips pupils with the scientific knowledge, analytical tools, and practical lab skills needed to understand life at cellular, organism, and ecosystem levels.

 

The course is divided into three engaging units:

  • Cell Biology: Cell structure and membrane transport, DNA and protein synthesis, enzymes, genetic engineering, and cellular respiration.
  • Multicellular Organisms: Cell division and stem cells, nervous and hormonal control, reproduction, variation and inheritance, and plant and animal transport systems.
  • Life on Earth: Ecosystems, biodiversity, food webs, human impact on the environment, and the essential natural cycles that sustain life.

 

Pupils must carry out an assignment which requires them to research a topic of work. This investigation will be undertaken by the learner and the findings will be written up under exam conditions. This element contributes 20% to the final award. 

Higher Human Biology

Higher Human Biology is a dynamic and rigorous course focusing specifically on the biological mechanisms of the human body, health, disease, and modern biomedical science. 

 

Higher Human Biology is one of Scotland's most popular Senior Phase science courses and serves as an essential stepping stone for pupils aiming for degrees and careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry, allied health professions, and life sciences.

 

The course is divided into four engaging units:

  • Human Cells: Stem cells and differentiation, DNA structure and replication, gene expression, gene mutations, human genomics, metabolic pathways, and cellular respiration.
  • Physiology and Health: Reproductive organs and hormonal control, antenatal and postnatal screening, blood pressure, structure/function of blood vessels, and cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity.
  • Neurobiology and Communication: Divisions of the nervous system, neural pathways, structure and function of neurons, neurotransmitters at synapses, memory, and brain chemistry.
  • Immunology and Public Health: Non-specific body defenses, specific cellular defenses (B and T lymphocytes), immunization, herd immunity, vaccine technology, and the design of clinical trials.

 

In addition to the four course units, pupils are required to research a topic of work and the findings are written up under exam conditions.  This element contributes to 20% of the Qualifications Scotland (QS) final grade.

Advanced Higher Biology

Advanced Higher Biology is an advanced, university-level course designed for Senior Phase pupils who wish to deepen their understanding of biological systems. Equivalent to first-year undergraduate study, this qualification transitions pupils from classroom learners into independent scientific investigators.

 

It serves as the top science qualification for pupils aiming for competitive university degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Sciences, Environmental Science, Biotechnology, and Natural Sciences.

 

The course is divided into three demanding areas of study:

  • Cells and Proteins: Laboratory techniques for cell study, protein structure and function, cell membrane transport, signal transduction, and protein control of the cell cycle.
  • Organisms and Evolution: Fieldwork sampling techniques, evolutionary theories, mechanisms of variation, sexual reproduction, display behaviours, and parasite-host relationships.
  • Investigative Biology: Scientific principles and ethics, critical analysis of scientific research literature, experimental design, and statistical data analysis.
 
In addition to the three course units, pupils will carry out and write-up a research investigation. This element contributes to 25% of the Qualifications Scotland (QS) final grade.

Qualifications Scotland (QS)

Qualifications Scotland are constantly updating their materials to better the course content being taught. All materials can be found on their website.

National 4 Biology: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47422.html 

National 5 Biology: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47427.html 

Higher Human Biology: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/47913.html

Advanced Higher Biology: https://www.sqa.org.uk/sqa/48458.html 

 

National 5 Biology course changes

We've made some changes to the National 5 Biology course assessment, following feedback from educators and learners:

  • Section 1 now has 20 marks instead of 25, and section 2 now has 60 marks instead of 75.
  • The duration of the question paper has reduced from 2 hours 30 minutes to 2 hours.
  • The assignment still has 20 marks. As the question paper now has 80 marks, we’ll no longer apply scaling to the assignment marks.

 

Higher Human Biology course changes

We've made some changes to the Higher Human Biology course assessment, following feedback from educators and learners:

  • Replaced question paper 1 and question paper 2 with a single question paper. It has two sections:
    - Section 1 has multiple-choice questions and is worth 20 marks.
    - Section 2 has restricted response questions and extended response questions and is worth 80 marks.
  • The new question paper is worth 100 marks in total and lasts 2 hours and 30 minutes.
  • The assignment is still worth 20 marks and we’ll scale this to 25 marks instead of 30.

 

Advanced Higher Biology course changes

We've made some changes to the Advanced Higher Biology course assessment, following feedback from educators and learners:

  • We have reduced the question paper from 100 marks to 85 marks, and scaling no longer applies. Section 1 still has 20 marks and Section 2 now has 65 marks instead of 80.
  • The question paper now represents 70% of the overall marks for the course assessment (previously 75%).
  • We have reduced the duration of the question paper from 3 hours to 2 hours and 30 minutes.
  • The project still has 30 marks - scaled to 37 marks instead of 40. It now represents 30% of the overall marks for the course assessment (previously 25%).

Useful Websites

BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/secondary

Achieve: https://achieve.hashtag-learning.co.uk/

Contact us

If you have any questions about our curriculum, course pathways, or how you can support your child's scientific learning at home, please do not hesitate to contact us through the school office.