AQA
AS | A2 | Environmental Studies
These courses have been specifically developed for those studying AS and A2 biology, following the AQA specification, to enable teachers to quickly and easily book a fieldtrip, safe in the knowledge that it will be directly related to work taught in the classroom and will contribute to achieving AQA specification requirements.
Achieving AQA AS specification requirements
At AS students will cover ideas about variation, classification and biodiversity from Unit 2 - The variety of living organisms.
There is considerable evidence that a fieldwork trip is a highlight of students' biology A-level. Therefore, offering a fieldwork experience at AS level may increase recruitment to A2 level.
Investigating the Variety of Living Organisms, 3 days3 day
This course will allow students to carry out fieldwork in at least two different habitats and explore the concepts of classification and biodiversity. These investigations will also develop student's knowledge of sampling and experimental techniques as well as data analysis and presentation skills.
READ MORE CASE STUDY CHECK AVAILABILITYInvestigating the Variety of Living Organisms, 1 day1 day
Two Micro habitats are compared and through an investigation students are introduced to the concept of classification, biodiversity and sampling.
READ MORE CASE STUDY CHECK AVAILABILITYAchieving AQA A2 specification requirements
At A2, the specification places considerable emphasis on practical work including field work (Unit 4 and Unit 6 - Investigative and practical skills). The A2 courses provide comprehensive coverage of the content from Unit 4 and will use fieldwork to allow students to gain a strong understanding of How Science Works; through the development and practice of investigative skills and through the consideration of how scientific evidence may be used to assess people's impact on the environment.
Investigative Skills Assessments (ISA) and Practical Skills Assessments (PSA) will not usually be carried but by the end of our courses students will have developed many ISA/PSA skills.
How Populations and Environments Work8 day
This longer course covers the same content as a five day course, but enables students to gain further experience in fieldwork and to experience a wider range of habitats and organisms. Students will have time to complete all parts of an ISA if required.
READ MORE CASE STUDY CHECK AVAILABILITYInvestigating Populations and Environments5 day
With ecological topics forming two thirds of the subject content of A2 Unit 4, this course can deliver one third of the marks at A2 in a week.
- Data collection (in addition to the four day programme): mark-release-recapture, primary and secondary data.
- Data analysis (in addition to the four day programme): chi-squared, consider the evidence of climate change on a local scale.
Investigating Environments4 day
- Data collection: random sampling, transects, percentage cover and frequency, collecting quantitative data on energy transfer.
- Data analysis: null hypotheses, standard error, Spearman's rank.
AQA Environmental Studies
At AS students will investigate biodiversity, conservation, ecological relationships and the physical environment, increasing their understanding of the environment and developing their practical skills.
At A2 students will have the opportunity to study 'first hand' the impacts of human activities on the environment. Students will be given opportunities to revise and develop their practical skills, by refining some of the AS practical skills and introducing more complex techniques.
The Science of Living and Physical Environments, 3 days3 day
Course content includes investigations:
- Of a semi-natural terrestrial habitat and habitats management practices affecting it
- Into the distribution and abundance of different species in an aquatic habitat
- Of a lithosere or hydrosere, considering the seral stages and affects of human activities
- Of the species in an aquatic or terrestrial habitat focusing on eco-system change
- Into soil analysis of a selection of different soils, including texture, organism and pH
The Science of Living and Physical Environments, 5 days5 day
Course content includes investigations:
- Of a semi-natural terrestrial habitat and habitats management practices affecting it
- Into the distribution and abundance of different species in an aquatic habitat
- Of a lithosere or hydrosere, considering the seral stages and affects of human activities
- Of the species in an aquatic or terrestrial habitat focusing on eco-system change
- Into soil analysis of a selection of different soils, including texture, organism and pH
