Secondary INSET : Raising Attainment in Biology A level

“Left inspired!”

Kim Carmichael, Head of Science, Longcroft School

Improving the performance of lower attaining A level Biology students

• How do you make the A level Biology specifications more accessible to lower attaining students?
• How do you support and differentiate for these students effectively whilst still stretching the top students?
• What strategies are effective in boosting exam performance?
• How do teachers best use marking and feedback at A level to improve student progress?

This highly interactive workshop is designed to boost exam performance in A level Biology. It is full of strategies and practical ideas for a Biology Department to take on board which improve student progress and attainment whether the board is OCR, AQA, Edexcel or WJEC.

INSET Outline

Boosting initial Biology subject knowledge and understanding

• Closing the gap up from GCSE Fast track to get to know your starting point, how to fill in the gaps
• Activities for the first few weeks to boost students’ confidence
• Strategies for helping students to deal with the depth of knowledge and think like A Level Biology students straight away

Getting Biology teaching “spot on” : ensuring the students understand the fundamental concepts

• How to differentiate for the lower ability in the same classroom
• Innovative ways to get students to understand the more challenging concepts
• Developing independence and resilience
• Effective questioning to support thinking skills
• Exemplar lesson activities, demonstrations and practicals for the less able student

Giving students proven strategies to boost exam performance

• Looking at the different types of questions, tasks, skills and assessment demands – through the eyes of the lower ability biologist
• Accessing the exam paper, interpreting and understanding the questions
• How to pull the paper apart to understand it

Tracking progress and intervening with a notable impact on pupil performance

• Developing a rich dialogue with students to improve performance (and make Ofsted happy!)
• Using data effectively to set realistic and meaningful targets
• Formative marking strategies which really add value at A level

To register an interest or raise any questions about his course please use the registration form below or use our Enquiries page.