Welcome to the
Biology Department
Please use the navigation menu on the left to browse the site
About the Website
Using the links on the left you can access all sorts of useful information about Biology, both at school and around the world. We would like all the information and links to be both useful and interesting! Please contact me by e-mail or by simply dropping me a written note to suggest ideas for the site, or to inform me of any more good websites.
For example: if you are interested in Animal Behaviour, Year 13 suggest you look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgOW9LnT4. If you like animations try www.maxanim.com.
J A Cook Head of Biology August 2009
The results of the 2009 British Biology Olympiad competition have been published. Well over 1800 of the best candidates from the top schools across the UK were entered, and the standard of answers on the Theory paper was apparently outstanding.
Ted Pynegar, Wenhao Li and Richard Cassidy were placed in the top 40 after the first round, and were asked to sit a second set of theory papers. A week later it was announced that both Ted and Wenhao had made the final 12 contenders for the Final IOB Olympiad.
They spent three days over the Easter break, at Birmingham University, undergoing theoretical tests, extra training, and practical skills tests in order to pick the British Team of 4. Apparently the whole experience was very challenging, and very enjoyable.
Ted Pynegar was then selected in the team of four, 2 boys and 2 girls, to represent the UK in the International Biology Olympiad in Japan this summer! This is a truly fantastic achievement. Good luck to Ted and the UK team in Japan!
All ten of our candidates did the School proud, and the Gold, Silver and Bronze award medal winners received their medals from Professor Steve Jones at Imperial College London on Tuesday, June 30th.
Overall, the High School narrowly missed out on the "Top School in the UK" award, which we last secured in 2005.
Gold Award: Richard Cassidy Wenhao Li Ted Pynegar
Silver Award: Simon Durrant Nick Johal Craig Woods
Bronze Award: Ayan De
Highly Commended: Peter Lynas
Commended: Daniel Chung Ajit Pankhania
STOP PRESS!
Ted has just returned from Japan with a Silver Medal!
His UK team of four finished as top team in Europe, Ted himself being placed 3rd in Europe, and in the top 25 in the world. He narrowly missed a Gold Medal by half a point.
The UK team's tally of 1 gold and 3 silvers was the best British achievement for many years.
Ted was amazed at how important the International Olympiad is regarded by other nations. A Japanese competitor who Ted got to know well, actually got his photo on the Asahi Shimbun national newspaper, which has a circulation of over 8 million. The Chinese team are not required to do national service with the army in recognition of their efforts. It seem as though the UK does not fully appreciate the efforts of young students in international Olympiad events that take place every year.
Anyway ....... Congratulations Ted Pynegar!
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The Galapagos Islands and Ecuador: The joint Geography and Biology expedition to South America in was a fantastic experience for all who went. Our initial base in Ecuador was the capital Quito. From there we travelled deep into the Amazon rainforest, follwed in Darwin's footsteps in the Galapagos Islands, and trekked in the high Andes close to Cotopaxi.
Please use the link to see more about the expedition.
If you like simple puzzles, why not try and solve a biological jigsaw? Or, if like me you love optical illusions, or genetics, have a quick look at New finds under useful websites.
Try some of the revision links in the Website section.
Try to win a million with this Year 10 powerpoint: