This site is mainly aimed at teachers and students at Key Stage 4 and in post-16 education. It is specifically aimed to support applied science courses and parts of the statutory work-related learning framework.
It gives a context for how Key Skills and Science are used in the pharmaceutical industry.
For work-related learning background see the QCA website
For details of the frameworks for work-related learning see the relevant section of the QCA website
Mapping of the modules to the work-related framework and other parts of the curriculum is shown below.
Module
Beating Bacteria
To give students an appreciation of how drugs are developed using comparisons of key data sets; what aspects are the most important for an orally dosed medicine; production and manufacturing timescales.
- Looking at data on 10 potential new drugs and deciding which to take forward.
- Deciding on the manufacturing process and timescales based on information given.
- Looking at data on 52 potential new drugs and deciding which to take forward by sorting and ordering data in spreadsheets.
- Can be used as an enterprise challenge.
This module is linked to these elements:
- Framework element 1 - Students recognise, develop and apply their skills for enterprise and employability.
- Framework element 6 - Students undertake tasks and activities set in work contexts.
- Framework element 9 - Students engage with ideas, challenges and applications from the business world.
1.3 Communication skills
In their study of science, the following should be covered:
- (1) Pupils should be taught to recall, analyse, interpret, apply and question scientific information or ideas
- (2) Pupils should be taught to use both qualitative and quantitative approaches
- (3) Pupils should be taught to present information, develop an argument and draw a conclusion, using scientific, technical and mathematical language, conventions and symbols and ICT tools
- (1) Pupils should be taught about the use of contemporary scientific and technological developments and their benefits, drawbacks and risks
- (2) Pupils should be taught to consider how and why decisions about science and technology are made, including those that raise ethical issues, and about the social, economic and environmental effects of such decisions
In their study of science, the following should be covered:
- (5) Human health is affected by ... medical treatments
Personal wellbeing
2.3 Developing relationships and working with others
- (3) Students should be able to work individually, together and in teams for specific purposes, making use of the social skills of communication, negotiation, assertiveness and collaboration
4. Curriculum opportunities
- (6) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to work as members of groups and teams for specific purposes, taking on different roles and responsibilities and identifying the range of skills and attributes needed for teamwork
2.3 Enterprise
- (6) Students should be able to develop approaches to working with others, problem solving and action planning
- (7) Students should be able to understand the key attitudes for enterprise, including self-reliance, open-mindedness, respect for evidence, pragmatism, and commitment to making a difference
- (8) Students should be able to develop and apply skills and qualities for enterprise
- (9) Students should be able to demonstrate and apply understanding of economic ideas
4. Curriculum opportunities
- (1) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to use case studies, simulations, scenarios, role play and drama to explore work and enterprise issues
- (3) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to recognise, develop and apply their skills for enterprise and employability
- (4) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to have direct and indirect contact with people from business
- (7) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to engage with ideas, challenges and applications from the business world
- (8) The curriculum should provide opportunities for students to explore sources of information and ideas about work and enterprise
Science A
11.3 How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
- Scientists are developing new drugs. These need to be thoroughly tested.
- When new medical drugs are devised, they have to be extensively tested and trialled before being used. Drugs are tested in the laboratory to find if they are toxic. They are then trialled on human volunteers to discover any side effects.
11.4 What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend themselves against them?
- Antibiotics, including penicillin, are medicines that help to cure bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside the body. Antibiotics cannot be used to kill viral pathogens, which live and reproduce inside cells. It is difficult to develop drugs which kill viruses without also damaging the body's tissues.
11.3 How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
- Scientists are developing new drugs. These need to be thoroughly tested.
- When new medical drugs are devised, they have to be extensively tested and trialled before being used. Drugs are tested in the laboratory to find if they are toxic. They are then trialled on human volunteers to discover any side effects.
11.4 What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend themselves against them?
- Antibiotics, including penicillin, are medicines that help to cure bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside the body. Antibiotics cannot be used to kill viral pathogens, which live and reproduce inside cells. It is difficult to develop drugs which kill viruses without also damaging the body's tissues.
11.3 How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
- Scientists are developing new drugs. These need to be thoroughly tested.
- When new medical drugs are devised, they have to be extensively tested and trialled before being used. Drugs are tested in the laboratory to find if they are toxic. They are then trialled on human volunteers to discover any side effects.
11.4 What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend themselves against them?
- Antibiotics, including penicillin, are medicines that help to cure bacterial disease by killing infective bacteria inside the body. Antibiotics cannot be used to kill viral pathogens, which live and reproduce inside cells. It is difficult to develop drugs which kill viruses without also damaging the body's tissues.
11.2 Health and Medicine
- that disease may be treated with medicines that contain useful drugs
- some bacteria, but not viruses, may be killed by antibiotics
- assess the implications of science when considering the issues of testing new drugs.
Applied Science: Double Award
2.2.3 Diseases caused by micro-organisms
- describe how new antibiotics are tested and trialled before being used on patients
- interpret data to assess the suitability of an antibiotic
B2.3 What are antibiotics, and why can they become less effective? How are new drugs developed and tested?
- (1) recall that we can kill bacteria and fungi, but not viruses, using chemicals called antibiotics
- (2) recall that over a period of time bacteria and fungi may become resistant to antibiotics
- (5) recall that new drugs are first tested for safety and effectiveness using human cells grown in the laboratory and animals;
- (6) recall that human trials may then be carried out
AP4.1 The chemical industry
- (9) understand that new chemical products are the result of an extensive programme of research and development (for example new medical drugs)
B2.3 What are antibiotics, and why can they become less effective? How are new drugs developed and tested?
- (1) recall that we can kill bacteria and fungi, but not viruses, using chemicals called antibiotics
- (2) recall that over a period of time bacteria and fungi may become resistant to antibiotics
- (5) recall that new drugs are first tested for safety and effectiveness using human cells grown in the laboratory and animals;
- (6) recall that human trials may then be carried out
B1c: Keeping Healthy
- State that new medical treatments/drugs are tested before use.
- State that antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
- Explain why new treatments are tested using animals, human tissue, computer models...
- Explain the need for careful use of antibiotics to prevent the increase of resistant strains such as MRSA.
C4f Batch or Continuous
Explain how economic considerations determine the development of new drugs in relation to:
- research and development time and associated labour costs
- time required to meet legal requirements including timescale for testing and human trials
B1c: Keeping Healthy
- State that new medical treatments/drugs are tested before use.
- State that antibiotics can be used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
- Explain why new treatments are tested using animals, human tissue, computer models...
- Explain the need for careful use of antibiotics to prevent the increase of resistant strains such as MRSA.
Science / Additional Science / Biology / Chemistry / Physics
Separate Science: Biology 3
- (g) understand the effect of penicillin on bacteria growing on agar plates. Antibiotics, including penicillin, are medicines produced by living organisms which help to cure bacterial disease by killing the infecting bacteria.
- (h) know that antibiotics may kill some bacteria, but not viruses and understand that resistant bacteria such as MRSA can result from the over use of antibiotics. Discuss the issues surrounding increasing bacterial resistance to antibiotics.
Higher: Personal Development
Relevant Units:
- Personal Development: Self and Work