The syllabus covers Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology, Genetics, Human Physiology in the SSC. These topics are extended and treated in greater depth in the AHL which also includes a very brief survey of living organisms and some basic Plant Science.

Evolution, Applied Biology and further extensions of Human Physiology and behaviour can be studied in the Options.

Practical work (25%) is carried out in the laboratories and in the field. We are very fortunate in our location which allows us to pop outside and look at examples and illustrations for several of the topics. In some cases we have brought the environment inside and have had jars on the window sill with aquatic ecosystems that have had no attention apart from topping up with water for the past twenty years.

The department has two teaching laboratories which are shared with Environmental Systems and a space for projects. Disabled access has been provided by the construction of a bridge. There is a green house which is sadly in need of repair as it is battered by the prevailing westerly winds. Nonetheless it has been used successfully this year to raise seedlings of Aesculus indica which were collected from the College grounds.

The Human resources of the department include two teachers and one technician.

The department is at the forefront of the college's efforts to develop coursework and learning materials on the intranet.