In this ongoing Biology course, learners are supported to prepare for the Biology Olympiad from an early age. Come and join us as we prepare together, having fun along the way, and learning lots! ESL Friendly.

What will we learn?

Week of 23/9/24 
- The Chemical Context of Life - Chemical Elements, Compounds and Toxicity
- The Chemical Context of Life - Element's Properties and the Structure of its Atoms

Week of 30/9/24
- The Chemical Context of Life - The Formation and Function of Molecules and Ionic Compounds
- Water and Life - Polar Covalent Bonds in Water Molecules Result in Hydrogen Bonding

Week of 7/10/24
 - Water and Life - Four Emergent Properties of Water Contribute to Earth's Suitability for Life
 - Water and Life - Acidic and Basic Conditions Affect Living Organisms

Week of 14/10/24
- Organic chemistry is key to the origin of life 
- Carbon atoms can form diverse molecules by bonding to four other atoms 

Week of 21/10/24
- Chemical groups are key to molecular function 
- Macromolecules are polymers, built from monomers 

Week of 28/10/24
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids

Week of 4/11/24
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids store

Week of 11/11/24
- Genomics and proteomics
-  An organism’s metabolism transforms matter and energy, subject to the laws of thermodynamics

Week of 18/11/24
- The free-energy change of a reaction
- ATP powers cellular work by coupling exergonic reactions to endergonic reactions 

Week of 25/11/24
Enzymes speed up metabolic reactions by lowering energy barriers 
Regulation of enzyme activity helps control metabolism 

Week of 2/12/24
Biologists use microscopes and biochemistry to study cells
Eukaryotic cells

Week of 9/12/24
Eukaryotic cell’s genetic instructions
The endomembrane system



Further classes will be added.

What prior learning is required?
Please note, this is a highly academic course with the aim of preparing learners for the Biology Olympiad. This is our course for learners aged 14-18 years and will not include work on vocabulary and the linguistic skills needed to access the course.