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Biology

The sciences are amongst the most popular and successful subjects at Reigate Grammar School.

All students study Biology, Physics and Chemistry up to the end of the Fifth Form (Year 11) and large numbers continue at least one of these to A Level. The sciences are also well represented in the courses students choose to follow at university: last year nearly a quarter of our Upper Sixth leavers went on to study the sciences, engineering and medicine.

All pupils in the Lower School (years 7 and 8) are taught general science using our bespoke programme of study, with an emphasis on the acquisition of relevant skills. From the Third Form onwards, each of the three sciences are taught by subject specialists. In the Upper School (years 9 to 11) we follow the Edexcel International GCSE (IGCSE) course. All three sciences are available at A Level, either together or in combination with a wide range of other subjects.

Biology at RGS
Biology is a popular subject throughout the school with four or five sets in each year of A Level study. Results are usually very good and many students go on to study related subjects at university. We have had particular success in recent years with applications to medical schools, to Oxbridge and for Natural Sciences.

We have a strong emphasis on offering a range of enrichment opportunities including: annual celebrations of Biology Week and Science Week, support completing CREST Awards, a Sixth Form talks series TSI Friday, Biology book club and a fortnightly journal discussion group. We run several trips each year, including the Natural History Museum for a ‘behind the scenes tour’ of the Spirit Collection and Nettlecombe Court on the eastern edge of Exmoor National Park to conduct a range of ecological investigations. We have visited London for specialist lectures as well as welcoming speakers to Reigate Grammar School, highlights including: a visit from Animazing where students learn about a menagerie of exotic animals, an engrossing talk about Ophthalmic Surgery which included a pig head dissection and an illuminating lecture on the impact of climate change and plastics on coral reefs. We are a friendly department in which our pupils thrive and their ‘have a go’ attitude breeds success both within and beyond the classroom, with national success in a range of competitions including observational drawing, essays, the Biology Challenge and the British Biology Olympiad. In a typical year 15 students will achieve Biology Olympiad medals and, from time to time, students are selected to represent the UK at the International Biology Olympiad.

Please take a look at the Sixth Form pages for details of our A level Biology course.

Testimonials...

Best private co-educational day school in the Southeast

The Sunday Times (Parent Power league tables 2024)

Happy kids, great results.

The Good Schools Guide

Reigate Grammar School is rated as ‘Excellent in All Areas’

The Independent Schools Inspectorate 2023