PLANNING SUPPORT BOOKLET - Outline Scheme of Work B6: Global Challenges - Suggested teaching hours

Aug 30, 2026

Planning Support Booklet for OCR GCSE (9-1) Biology A (J247) and Combined Science A (Gateway Science) (J250), first teaching from September 2016. Provides a Planning Guidance table with suggested teaching times by topic, aligned to the specification order while allowing centres to adapt sequencing to local needs. Includes delivery guide pointers for individual topics and clarifies that practical skills (specification topic p7) are developed throughout the course, not listed as a separate planning entry. Includes B6 unit chapters, teaching-hour totals, and chapter-level breakdowns.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatDOCX

Pages42

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Practical work

Delivery guides

Outline Scheme of Work: B6: Global Challenges

Suggested teaching time for chapter

B6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment

B6.2 Feeding the human race

B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health

PLANNING SUPPORT BOOKLET J247, J250 For first teaching in 2016 This support material booklet is designed to accompany the OCR GCSE (9-1) specification in Biology A and Combined Science A (Gateway Science). DISCLAIMER This resource was designed using the most up to date information from the specification at the time it was published. Specifications are updated over time, which means there may be contradictions between the resource and the specification, therefore please use the information on the latest specification at all times. If you do notice a discrepancy please contact us on the following email address: HYPERLINK "mailto:resources.feedback@ocr.org.uk" resources.feedback@ocr.org.uk Introduction This support material is designed to accompany the OCR GCSE (9-1) specification for first teaching from September 2016 for: HYPERLINK "http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/234594-specification-accredited-gcse-gateway-science-suite-biology-a-j247.pdf" Biology A (Gateway Science – J247) HYPERLINK "https://ocr.org.uk/Images/234596-specification-accredited-gcse-gateway-science-suite-combined-science-a-j250.pdf" Combined Science A (Gateway Science – J250) The Planning Guidance table on the following pages sets out suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification. Note that we always recommend that individual centres plan their schemes of work according to their individual needs. Actual teaching times for topics will depend on the amount of practical work done within each topic and the emphasis placed on development of practical skills in various areas, as well as use of contexts, case studies and other work to support depth of understanding and application of knowledge and understanding. It will also depend on the level of prior knowledge and understanding that learners bring to the course. The table follows the order of the topics in the specification. It is not implied that centres teach the specification topics in the order shown, centres are free to teach the specification in the order that suites them. Delivery guides The column ‘Delivery guides’ refers to individual teacher guides available from the HYPERLINK "http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-gateway-science-suite-biology-a-j247-from-2016/" GCSE (9–1) Biology A and HYPERLINK "http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-gateway-science-suite-combined-science-a-j250-from-2016/" Combined Science A qualification pages. These Delivery guides provide further guidance and suggestions for teaching of individual topics, including links to a range of activities that may be used and guidance on resolving common misconceptions. Practical work Specification topic p7 (Practical skills) is not included explicitly in the Planning Guidance table. The expectation is that the practical skills are developed throughout the course and in support of conceptual understanding. Suggestions for where the PAG techniques can be are included throughout the table. This is by no means an exhaustive list of potential practical activities. Total teaching hours = 120 hours / 84 hours Outline Scheme of Work: B6: Global Challenges Suggested teaching time for chapter: 4 hours biology / 3 hours combined science B6.1 Monitoring and maintaining the environment Outline Scheme of Work: B6: Global Challenges Suggested teaching time for chapter: 4 hours biology / 3 hours combined science B6.2 Feeding the human race B6.3 Monitoring and maintaining health We’d like to know your view on the resources we produce. Click ‘ HYPERLINK "mailto:resources.feedback@ocr.org.uk?subject=I%20like%20the%20GCSE%20(9-1)%20Gateway%20Science%20Biology%20A%20Planning%20Support%20booklet%20" Like’ or ‘ HYPERLINK "mailto:resources.feedback@ocr.org.uk?subject=I%20dislike%20the%20GCSE%20(9-1)%20Gateway%20Science%20Biology%20A%20Planning%20Support%20booklet%20" Dislike’ to send us an auto generated email about this resource. Add comments if you want to. Let us know how we can improve this resource o

FAQs

What is the purpose of this Planning Support Booklet?

It accompanies the OCR GCSE (9-1) Biology A and Combined Science A specifications and provides planning guidance, including suggested teaching times for the specification topics.

How should teaching be scheduled according to the booklet?

The table follows the specification topic order, but centres may teach in any order that suits their needs, depending on practical work, practical-skill emphasis, and the contexts used.

Where is the practical skills content placed in the scheme of work?

Specification topic p7 (Practical skills) is not explicitly listed in the planning table; practical skills are expected to be developed throughout the course to support conceptual understanding.

Aug 30, 2026

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