Life & Health Sciences
Overview
The CCEA GCE Life and Health Sciences specification was developed with industry in response to the needs of the growing life and health sciences sector in Northern Ireland.
Life and health science related industries make up over 25% of Northern Ireland’s total economic output and include a diverse range of public and private businesses and employment opportunities, including pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, dental, nursing, environmental and allied health professions.
Life & Health Sciences
Team
- TBC
GCSE
Not available at GCSE
A LEVEL
Students develop skills in performing a range of experimental techniques useful in biology, chemistry and physics. For each of the following scientific skills students must complete an investigation. They must present each investigation as a report that includes a title, objective, introduction, materials and apparatus, risk assessment, procedure, results and conclusion.
Students get the opportunity to learn about how human body systems work and how they support good health. A healthy body is fundamental to good quality of life. To maintain good health, a balanced diet that meets the energy and nutritional needs of the individual is key, as is regular physical exercise. Healthcare professionals perform assessments of how well human body systems are functioning. These assessments can, for example, provide information on whether an individual may have a disease or may need to make changes to their diet. In this unit students consider some health and fitness measurements used to monitor the activity of the body. They also investigate what is considered to be a healthy diet for different groups, for example children, the elderly and pregnant women.
Students develop skills in performing calculations in chemistry. Students can also apply their knowledge of energetics, kinetics and equilibrium in the industrial manufacture of chemicals. This unit is assessed through an external examination consisting of a series of compulsory structured questions, some of which may allow opportunities for extended writing.