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Biology A level

Paston College

Grammar School Road, North Walsham, Norfolk, NR28 9JL

GCE A/AS Level or Equivalent

Level 3

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026

Paston College

2 Year(s)

Full time

Daytime/working hours

Application Instructions

Step 1: Apply

Step 2: Interviews and taster events

As part of your application you will be invited to book an interview, to discuss your chosen course, where you will meet with an academic tutor from your chosen area of study for an informal discussion about your course choices, to ensure you have chosen the best course for your future ambitions.

This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss anything about the course that you are unsure about. Please ensure you check your confirmation email for full details, so you do not miss your appointment.

You are initially only able to book an interview for your first choice course, please let us know if you would subsequently like to be able to book interviews for other courses by emailing admissions@paston.ac.uk

Step 3: Offer

This stage provides you with an outcome of your recent interview, which will confirm if you have been made an offer of a place on your chosen course.

All offers are provisional until the point of enrolment and most of our course offers are conditional, meaning there is entry criteria you need to meet before enrolling. This will be outlined in your offer letter.

Sometimes we are unable to offer you a place on your chosen course. If this happens the reasons will be discussed with you at your appointment and we will look at alternative options with you. We will be in contact to confirm the outcome and what to do next. We also have a team of specialist Course Advisers who are more than happy to look at alternative options with you and answer any questions you may have.

Step 4: Enrolment

Enrolment is the final stage before starting your course with us and takes place within the last two weeks of August. We require you to be available to attend your appointment in person at college, so we can complete all the required steps to enrolling you on your chosen course.

We may ask you to bring some documents with you so please read your enrolment invitation carefully.

Course Details

THIS COURSE AIMS TO ENGAGE AND INSPIRE YOU WITH THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BIOLOGY TO HELP YOU UNDERSTAND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES SUCH AS GENETIC MODIFICATION, ADVANCES IN DRUG THERAPY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE WAYS IN WHICH HUMANS ARE EXPLOITING THE PLANET.

TO ENABLE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THESE ISSUES, WE ALLOW YOU TO EXPLORE KEY AREAS OF BIOLOGY IN DEPTH TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO THE BIOLOGICAL WORLD AROUND YOU. THE COURSE IS TAUGHT BY HIGHLY MOTIVATED, SPECIALIST BIOLOGY TEACHERS WITH RELEVANT RESEARCH EXPERIENCE.

In the first year you will explore topics such as cell structure, biological reactions, enzymes and DNA which help you to make sense of the big picture. You then study a range of biological organisms and their adaptations for gas exchange and the digestion and transport of nutrients. In the second year you will investigate new themes but build on the core concepts learnt in the first year of the course. You will cover respiration to help you understand the energy transfer from plants to animals in food chains and the concept of ecosystems and the human impact on the environment and future implications. You will also investigate reproduction and the diversity of living organisms and molecular biology advances that assist with classification and understanding evolution

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES

You will have the opportunity to measure biodiversity and explore sand dune succession during the field trip that forms part of the ecology unit. You will also be able to use cutting edge technology such as gel electrophoresis to analyse DNA samples and to generate a genetic fingerprint using your own DNA.

IS IT SUITABLE FOR YOU?

If you have ever wondered how your body works and is able to carry out complex functions, are interested in the world around you and are fascinated by the diversity of living organisms, Biology is the course for you.

HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED

There are three written examinations at the end of the course that are based on the following topics: energy for life, continuity of life and requirements for life.

Additionally, your practical work will be assessed leading to a practical endorsement qualification alongside your A Level grade.

THIS COURSE GOES WELL WITH…

Biology can be studied with a wide variety of other A Level courses but we recommend you take it alongside at least one other science or social science subject.
You can go on to do…

A wide range of degree courses and can lead to careers in medicine, veterinary, forensic science, science journalism, ecology and many more. It also develops analytical and practical skills relevant or a variety of careers.

ADDITIONAL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Grade 6/B in GCSE Biology or Additional Science and grade 5/high C or low B in GCSE Maths.

Entry requirements

3 A Level Programme

Minimum of 66444 at GCSE

You must also study English/Maths GCSE if you have not already achieved grade 4 in these subjects.

If you achieve a minimum of 3 GCSE's at grade 8 plus 5 at grade 7 and your English Language and Maths are at minimum grade 4, you will have the option to join the A Plus programme.

Please note that A Plus is designed for applicants to academic courses at Oxford, Cambridge or Russel Group.

Your next steps...

You can go on to do…

A wide range of degree courses and can lead to careers in medicine, veterinary, forensic science, science journalism, ecology and many more. It also develops analytical and practical skills relevant or a variety of careers

For more courses like this, check our courses page.