FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
AQA A-Level Biology Course Programme
Slapton Ley Field Centre
AQA A-Level Biology
Exemplar Course Programme
For teaching from September 2015
Slapton Ley Field Centre is located on the Start Bay coast in South Devon and is surrounded by Slapton Ley National
Nature Reserve. The Ley is the largest natural freshwater lake in the South West and is separated from the sea by Slapton
Sands, a barrier beach. The 214 hectare reserve has been managed by FSC Slapton Ley for over 50 years as an "outdoor
laboratory" for education and conservation, and boasts a rich mosaic of habitats including ancient and coppiced
woodland, freshwater lake and stream, shingle ridge and rocky shore. The centre offers visitors of all ages the opportunity
to experience a unique outdoor learning environment in combination with specialist teaching and facilities.
Our new courses have been designed to fit the criteria of the specifications for first teaching in 2015 and offer:
 Subject content contextualized through a range of special habitats. In particular the course will cover aspects of
Topics 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the new AQA specification.
 Practical skills and use of apparatus and techniques embedded into ecological investigations using a range of
laboratory and field equipment and the opportunity to complete core practicals. The course will deliver a rich
practical experience for students that goes above and beyond the 12 core practicals, as recommended by AQA.
 Integration of mathematical skills into investigative fieldwork and practicals.
FSC Slapton Ley, Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP
Tel: 01548 580466
E-mail: enquiries.sl@field-studies-council.org
Website: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/slapton/slaptonley.aspx
Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
AQA A-Level Biology Course Programme
Slapton Ley Field Centre
AQA Biodiversity, Ecosystems and Practical
Ecology Skills – 5 Days
Day
AM
PM
EVE
1
Arrive 1200, settle in to
rooms
Welcome to Slapton Ley, hire waterproofs etc.
Species, Evolution and Diversity: Past, Present
and Future
Introduction to Ecology
During this introductory session, students will begin
to explore the habitats of Slapton Ley National
Nature Reserve. Students will be encouraged to
observe and appreciate ecosystems at differing
scales, considering what has shaped these in the
past, what ecological processes are happening now
and how these ecosystems might change in the
future.
2
Species Diversity and Variation: Rocky Shore or Ancient Woodland
Students will collect quantitative and qualitative data to investigate biological
diversity within an inspiring habitat – either ancient woodland or rocky shore.
Investigations will focus on the variation found in nature, from phenotypic variation
within a species through to diversity within a community.
Data analysis will include calculating Simpson’s Diversity Index and a worked
example of the Students T-test.
3
Energy & Ecosystems: Slapton Wood Stream
Students will sample two microhabitats in Slapton Wood Stream, measuring the
abundance of different organisms in each. Students will use this data to test if there
is association between trophic level and micro-habitat using the chi-squared
statistical test. They will also identify specific adaptations and consider how these
enable different species to survive in a particular microhabitats.
They will also use their data to construct pyramids of number, biomass and energy
for the stream ecosystem. They will use these to consider the efficiency of energy
transfer. Light and dark algal bottles could be used to estimate the total amount of
energy being fixed through photosynthesis within an ecosystem.
4
Populations in Ecosystems: Succession on Slapton Sands Shingle Ridge
Students will introduced to the theory of succession and see first-hand how
succession progresses in a vegetated shingle ecosystem. Students will investigate
the change in plant communities in relation to changes in environmental factors
such as wind speed, soil depth, soil moisture and identify adaptations that are
common to each community and allow that community to thrive.
Students will use Spearman’s Rank correlation coefficient to test their data for
correlations between biotic and abiotic factors on the shingle ridge.
Conservation and conflict
During a tour of Slapton Ley NNR, students will have the opportunity to see firsthand examples of how conservation of habitats frequently involves management of
succession. They will consider the need to manage the conflict between human
needs and conservation in order to maintain the sustainability of natural resources.
Leading on from the afternoons activities,
students will have an introduction to the
study of ecology including:
-What is ecology? (definition of key
terminology)
- After immersion in environment do we
think ecology matters?
- How do we know what good science is?
How do we achieve it?
- Setting personal objectives
Required Practical 7: Use of
chromatography to investigate the
pigments isolated from leaves of
different plants
Students will use paper chromatography
to show the different photosynthetic
pigments found in sun and shade tolerant
leaves (woodland) or in different types of
seaweed (rocky shore).
Required Practical 10: Investigation
into the effect of an environmental
variable on the movement of an
animal using a choice chamber.
Using information from the morning study,
students will investigate more closely the
relationship between the environmental
variables such as oxygen concentration or
sediment size and organisms’ adaptations,
using choice chambers.
Required Practical 12: Investigation
into the effect of a named
environmental factor on the
distribution of a given species.
Students work individually in or small
groups to research and plan an
investigation for Required Practical 12.
Teachers will have the opportunity to
assess students against the Common
Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC).
FSC Slapton Ley, Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP
Tel: 01548 580466
E-mail: enquiries.sl@field-studies-council.org
Website: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/slapton/slaptonley.aspx
Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
AQA A-Level Biology Course Programme
Slapton Ley Field Centre
5
Required Practical 12
Course finishes at 1230
Students will carry out the
investigation that they have planned.
Students can use their investigation to
form the basis of a research and
presentation exercise in order to gain
full practical endorsement (CPAC)
accreditation.
Please note that to ensure safe and quality
learning experiences for students, the
timetable may alter depending on weather
conditions and tide times.
Specification links, Core Practicals, Assessment Skills & Mathematics
Specification Links:
Topic 4: Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms
Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
Topic 7: Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
Apparatus & Technique Skills:
AT a: Use appropriate apparatus to record a range of quantitative measurements
AT d: Use of light microscope at high power and low power, including use of a graticule
AT e: Produce scientific drawing from observation with annotations
AT g: Separate biological compounds using thin layer/paper chromatography or electrophoresis
AT h: Safely and ethically use organisms to measure plant or animal responses
AT k: Use sampling techniques in fieldwork
AT l: Use ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger to collect data, or use software to process data
Maths Skills:
Mathematical skills now make up at least 10% of the marks at A level and this is reflected by their prominence throughout the course.
Embedded into each session will be numerous opportunities for students to practice and develop their arithmetic and numerical
computation, data handling, algebra, and graphical skills. Students will also have the opportunity to carry out up to three statistical tests
(Spearman’s rank, Student’s t-test and chi-squared) on their own primary data.
Exam Skills:
We recognise that students often struggle with exam questions on ecology topics. Students often find it difficult to transfer knowledge
and skills learnt in one habitat to a scenario based in another. Our tutors will ensure students recognise the key ecological principles which
will form the basis of exam answers no matter what context they are set in. Embedded into every day will be opportunities to practice
exam style questions and get expert feedback on their responses.
FSC Slapton Ley, Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP
Tel: 01548 580466
E-mail: enquiries.sl@field-studies-council.org
Website: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/slapton/slaptonley.aspx
Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW
FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL
AQA A-Level Biology Course Programme
Slapton Ley Field Centre
What is included in the fee?
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Up to 9 hours of tuition a day
Expert tuition, from fully trained staff
Full board accommodation. Catering includes cooked breakfast, packed lunch, homemade cakes and evening
meal.
Use of facilities including workrooms, recreational space, ICT and centre grounds
Established health and safety procedures and 24 hour emergency cover
Access to specialist equipment and resources
Support before and following the course
Tuition is delivered by talented teachers, with not only an expert knowledge of their subject and field work
locations, but a passion for the subject being taught. Our education team are fully DBS checked, and undergo
a regular and rigorous training process. All tutors have received training in first aid, risk assessment and
water safety.
Course options are flexible. The programme outlined in this booklet is a sample that has been designed to
meet the requirements of your specification. However, should you wish to select certain options, or include
subject content or practicals not catered for in the fieldwork investigations outlined, please contact us to
discuss possible alternatives.
External Recognition of Quality
Slapton Ley Field Centre has been awarded the Quality Badge by The Council for Learning
Outside the Classroom. The badge is awarded to organisations that have demonstrated
that they consistently deliver high quality teaching and learning experiences and manage risk
effectively. This means that you will have to complete less paperwork when visiting our
centre.
To make a booking or if you have an enquiry:
Call us on 01548 580466
Email us at enquiries.sl@field-studies-council.org
FSC Slapton Ley, Slapton, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 2QP
Tel: 01548 580466
E-mail: enquiries.sl@field-studies-council.org
Website: www.field-studies-council.org/centres/slapton/slaptonley.aspx
Field Studies Council is a limited Company, registered in England and Wales No. 412621 and a Charity No. 313364. Registered Office; Preston Montford, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 1HW