Biology
At James Calvert Spence College, we provide a broad and balanced, ambitious curriculum for all pupils. Our biology curriculum builds upon the knowledge and skills pupils have developed in first school through a well-planned and sequenced curriculum. Our curriculum plans follow the National Curriculum as well as drawing upon best practice within the field of biology. We draw on evidence-based research to ensure our curriculum is high quality and meets the needs of our pupils. We provide regular opportunities to revisit learning, so it becomes embedded in our pupils’ long-term memory. Disciplinary knowledge such as scientific skills, data analysis and practical opportunities, are embedded within the topics covered. The overview of our plan is below.
Examples of on-going assessment and feedback in lessons
- Verbal feedback by the teacher to the whole class which pupils act on in the lesson; this is often evidenced using green pen.
- Pupils self-assess or peer-assess work with a clear framework guiding them through this.
- Teachers circulate to give ’LIVE’ and immediate feedback as pupils are working independently.
- Pupils may complete mini quizzes or retrieval activities that revisit prior learning and receive verbal feedback.
- Use of tailored questioning by the teacher.
