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Face-to-face CPD

Essential A-Level Biology - Tackling Difficult Topics 2

A-Level Biology is one of the top choices of all A-Level subjects, but it is also one of the most challenging. Some of the topics covered are very conceptually difficult and students can find them hard to understand. Poor understanding will cost them marks in the exams. This course deals with some of these topics and demonstrates how to reduce the cognitive load to help students of all abilities process complex ideas.

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Overview

Format
Face-to-face CPD
Series
Essential
Duration
1 day (10am to 3.15pm)
Price
£324.00 inc VAT
Audience

This resource and advice-packed CPD course is suitable for all teachers of A-Level Biology: whether ECT, non-specialist teachers, teachers lacking confidence in the harder topics or experienced teachers who have not taught these topics before, having focussed on only one side of the course.

Upcoming dates

  • Thursday July 1st 2027

    London - The Clermont Hotel (Charing Cross)

    £324.00 inc VAT
    Book now

About this event

This course will improve your confidence and provide you with classroom resources to support these topics.

  • This course focuses on four challenging topic areas covered by all exam boards:
  • Photosynthesis and respiration
  • The action potential and its propagation
  • Muscle contraction
  • Hear expert guidance to use up-to-date techniques for enhancing understanding and memory
  • Learn about the role of dual coding, blank canvassing, chunking and ways to reduce cognitive load
  • Discuss the misconceptions and common errors for each topic area

What we'll cover

  • How to get your students to become confident in this biochemistry - The use of retrieval methods to secure these topics in the long-term memory
  • The value of teaching chemiosmosis first as the main process
  • The importance of coenzymes
  • The importance of knowing the big picture and then knowing the finer details
  • A side-by-side analysis to solidify understanding of both processes and help reduce confusion
  • An analysis of the synoptic links that can be made as these topics link to many other topics

  • Understanding the physics of membrane potentials and voltage-gated channels
  • The different types of transport proteins: channels and carriers (pumps)
  • The terminology that is essential for exam success
  • Saltatory conduction and local currents

  • How to break down the sliding filament theory into easier, more understandable sections
  • The confusion about the role of ATP
  • The value of diagrams and flowcharts to help processing complex ideas
  • A discussion the use of models, analogies and animation

The tutor2u approach to CPD

  • A full day of CPD designed and delivered by experienced subject specialists

  • Practical, ready-to-use resources that you can put to use and share with colleagues as soon as you return to the classroom

  • A chance to have your questions answered, and teaching problems solved

  • An invaluable opportunity to share ideas and experiences with colleagues from other centres and to build a network of contacts

  • Refreshments throughout the day and a buffet lunch

  • All attendees receive a 20% one-time discount code to use on full price tutor2u print or digital resources

Your hosts

  • Ellena Gilson

    Ellena has an excellent teaching background as the head of Biology at a top grammar school and has over 25 years’ experience of teaching. Ellena holds senior positions for two major exam boards and runs her own tutoring business. Ellena has a decade of experience setting exam questions and revising questions for A-Level papers. She authors A-Level resources for a number of publishers.

About Essential

Get to grips with delivering specific qualifications. Gain hands-on support as a non-specialist, early career, or inexperienced teacher.

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