Biology

Our Biology Department aims to enthuse young people with an appreciation of the living world, and our place within it, through a multitude of experiences.

What we study in Biology
We teach Biology from Junior 7 and have tailored our lessons around the Curriculum for Excellence and place a strong focus on pupils' engagement in the learning experience.

In S3 we teach the new National 5 Biology course and in S4 we teach Standard Grade Biology, which is an excellent introduction course with its wide variety of experience through seven topics. In 2012, 78% of our Standard Grade pupils achieved a Credit pass.

We also offer Higher Human Biology to our Senior pupils. This is an enjoyable and relevant course, particularly for pupils going on to study biomedical sciences, medicine or veterinary medicine. We present a large number of Higher candidates every year; this year 95% of our candidates achieved a pass at Grades A, B or C. 

For S6 pupils, we offer Advanced Higher Biology, which is an introduction to university level biology within the school environment. This year, our two Advanced Higher candidates achieved Grade A and Grade B passes.

Beyond the classroom
Some of the excursions and opportunities pupils have participated in recently include:

♦ S2 entered the Microbiology Society's Facebug Poster Competition 
♦ S4 attended the Lochwinnoch Nature Reserve to complete sampling techniques
♦ S6 attended the David Livingstone Symposium and Tropical Disease lectures at Glasgow University

Meet the staff

Mrs Sweeney, Head of Biology Mrs Sweeney has been at Craigholme for 13 years and thoroughly enjoys teaching J7 and S1 Science and S2 to S6 Biology. Life at Craigholme is never dull and other areas she is involved in include: Health & Safety and Assessment & Reporting. Mrs Sweeney has had many great experiences with Craigholme from visits to Edinburgh Zoo, the wind farm and hydroelectric power station, the Modern Languages trip to the Black Forest and a host of social, cake-eating events! However, her passion remains teaching Biology to the girls.

Useful links
These are some of our favourite websites for pupils:

For Standard Grade revision: BBC Bitesize 
For Higher and Advanced Higher cell biology: Centre of the Cell and Cells Alive 
For Higher Human Biology — the brain and nervous system: BBC Science