Biology

Applications Open: - Friday 28th November 2025

Applications Close: - Friday 6 February 2026 - Please note - If you do not complete your application fully by the deadline of Friday 6 February 2026, we may not be able to consider it until August when GCSE results are published.

How to Apply:

Internal students - Applications to join our Sixth Form, via Applicaa, can be made via this link Mayfield Grammar School, Gravesend (applicaa.com). PLEASE NOTE that you should use an e-mail address that you check regularly as the Applicca system will contact you with updates about your application.

External students - Year 11 Students from other schools applying to Mayfield Grammar School should apply via KentChoices using this link - https://www.kentprospectus.co.uk/login. Please note - After sending your application, you'll receive a welcome email from Applicaa asking for further information.

If you applied to us before the deadline but have not heard from us for a while please bear with us, we are working through the applications and will get back to you with our decision and advice as soon as we can. We will continue to send messages via Applicaa so please logon from time to time to check if we need some additional information from you

Applications After the deadline

Students who are interested in applying to Mayfield Grammar School for Sixth Form but have missed our application process can contact us once they have their GCSE results in August. After the publication of GCSE examinations results in August we ask that you make an appointment to discuss your application with the Sixth Form team. You need to call 01474 352896 or email admissions@mgsg.kent.sch.uk. Please check you have met our entry criteria for the subjects you want to study and read our Options Booklet under the Sixth Form tab on our website for our general entry criteria. If you meet our criteria, please get in touch, and bring your original documents for GCSE Results Summary and Birth Certificate as ID when you are offered an appointment.

Entry Requirements: -

Entry to the Sixth Form is dependent on demonstrating achievements which show general breadth of ability as well as depth in the specific courses chosen for study in the Sixth Form. For this reason you will need to have achieved all the following:

1. A minimum of 6 GCSEs at Grade 5 and above, preferably on the higher papers, in discrete subjects, with the exception of Combined Science, which counts as two subjects.

2. Grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Mathematics.

3. To have met the requirements of the individual subjects that you intend to study at A Level/Level 3, which are all, with the exception of Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Languages, a minimum of Grade 6 at GCSE on the Higher papers. This is essential.

Essential skills

• Excellent organisational skills to manage the demands of the course

• Strong literacy and numeracy skills

• Good practical skills and the ability to follow instructions

• A logical and methodical approach to understanding concepts

• Ability to apply knowledge and understanding to unfamiliar contexts

• Ability to evaluate information and data

Year 1

You will study three modules in Year 12:

• Foundations in Biology

• Exchange and Transport

• Biodiversity and Evolution

There will be mock exams at the end of Year 12, which will assess your knowledge and understanding of course content covered across the year, and provide a valuable opportunity to build your skills in preparation for your Year 13 exams. You will complete regular practical work throughout the year, which will be assessed by your teacher and contribute towards the award of the Practical Endorsement at the end of the course. A successful Practical Endorsement will be required in order to study scientific or medical courses at university, or to enter relevant careers. Practical work covers 12 essential skill groups in Biology – most of these take place in the lab, but there will be a field trip at the end of Year 12 focused on developing ecological sampling skills.

Year 2

You will study two modules in Year 13:

• Communication, Homeostasis and Energy

• Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems

The A-level exams (at the end of Year 13) cover material from across the entire course.

There are three exam papers:

• Paper 1: Biological Processes (2 hours 15 minutes)

• Paper 2: Biological Diversity (2 hours 15 minutes)

• Paper 3: Unified Biology (1 hour 30 minutes)

You will continue to complete practical work as part of the Practical Endorsement, which will be awarded as part of the A-level qualification at the end of the course.

Other details - If you have any further questions, please contact Mrs O’Donnell.

Grade 6,6 in Combined Science GCSE or 6 in Biology

Students wishing to study 3 Sciences will need Grade 7 in all GCSE Sciences.

Students wishing to study 2 Sciences will need Grade 7 in both the chosen Sciences.

We strongly advise that students taking AL Science have at least a grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics.

University requirements

A-level Biology is an essential prerequisite for degree courses such as medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and pharmacology (please be aware that for many of these courses you will also need to study A level Chemistry). It is also a useful subject to study in preparation for many degree courses, due to the demanding nature of the course and the skills this allows you to develop. Biology-related degrees are a popular option at university – you can study a broad-based degree or choose to specialise in a specific aspect of Biology, and these qualifications open the door to an enormous variety of potential career paths.

Links to Further Education

Biology; Physiotherapy; Occupational therapy; Nutrition; Medicine; Nursing; Marine Biology; Food Science; Sustainable Agriculture; Veterinary Medicine; Zoology; Ecology; Conservation; Dentistry; Radiology; Pharmacology; Forensic Science

Links to Careers

Physiotherapist; Doctor; Nurse; Dietician; Teacher; Industrial Biologist; Pharmacist; Crop or Fuel Management; Food Industry; Research Scientist; Forensic Scientist; Speech Therapist; Occupational Therapist