KS3
What will the subject be like?
Geography allows our pupils to understand more of their environment and the world around them. From the Upper Third, pupils will discover the local area and this will be expanded to include the North West region. In the Upper Fourth, we introduce a global perspective and look at the divide between ‘Rich World’ and ‘Poor World’.
Lessons per week
Pupils have three lessons of Geography in the Upper Third and in the Lower Fourth.
What will be studied?
In the Upper Third pupils are provided with basic map reading skills and atlas reading skills and equipped with an understanding of day, night and the seasons. We arrange weather exercises within the school grounds utilising our new weather station. The data collected is then logged on one of the computers in the department. Looking at the local area, then the North West, we also look at how farming and transport has developed. This links to a fieldtrip to Cronkshaw Farm and Helmshore Mill. Here we are able to observe the progress of wool from fleece to cloth at the textile mill and practice carding and spinning for ourselves.
In the Lower Fourth the aim is to develop a global perspective. The issues associated with ‘youthful’ and ‘ageing’ populations are addressed. Mapping and statistical techniques are developed that fit in with this topic. India is chosen for a case study of a less economically developed country. Physical Geography will be dealt with in the Spring Term with the fundamentals of the structure of the earth, simple plate tectonics, rock types, and the rock cycle being taught. This leads to looking at the basic processes of weathering and erosion which are developed into a study of the water cycle, river processes and landforms and the causes of flooding. The year concludes with a study of the ‘Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem’ where pupils learn about climate, vegetation and problems associated with deforestation and survival of indigenous cultures. Ideas concerning the sustainable development of the forest and ecotourism are also explored.
Is a vital development from classwork. It may vary from research, data handling and input to written tasks. At the end of the Upper Third, pupils produce a report on their fieldwork which forms the basis of a substantial display at the beginning of the following academic year.
“Fieldwork is integral to the study of geography and our courses blend this perfectly with classroom teaching. In particular, our Upper Third visit links both years together as a whole scheme of work.”
Mrs. Helen Knight, Head of Geography
GCSE
What is GCSE Geography?
The course you will be studying covers a wide range of topics and areas on various scales from local to national to worldwide. Geography is a topical subject and issues such as “Do we give sufficient Aid to poorer countries?” or “Do we encourage the use of private transport by building more motorways?” are all part of Geography.
What topics will I study?
1. The course is divided into FOUR main sections:
- THE UK
- Here the emphasis is on how both the natural and the manmade landscape has changed over recent years and the issues and problems that have resulted from that change for example the impact of the growth in tourism on areas such as the Lake District.
- In our cities we will be looking at the rebirth of derelict areas such as Castlefield and the upsurge of Retail Parks such as the Trafford Centre.
- In the countryside we will look at the issues around factory farming and the influence of the BSE scare and foot and mouth disease on farming techniques and in particular organic farming.
- THE EUROPEAN UNION
- As part of an ever-expanding EU we will be looking at contrasting areas including Italy, Paris and the ‘costas’ of Spain to see how their development compares with ours.
- THE WIDER WORLD
- We will be studying a wide range of places from Japan to Bangladesh to Brazil covering a fascinating range of topics from cyclones to eco-tourism to “Electric City” in Osaka.
- GLOBAL ISSUES
- As the world shrinks in the new electronic age, the surge in air transport, the growth of multinational firms and the development of world trade it is very important that students are aware of such changes and of their consequences. Unequal levels of wealth, massive problems due to the huge growth in cities in the developing world and the potential disastrous results of global warming are some of the central themes here.
How will I be assessed?
There will he two examination papers at the end of the course:
Paper One: 1ΒΌ hours long and comprising 30% of the mark will focus
on the UK and will involve map reading skills.
Paper Two: 2 hours long and comprising 45% of the mark will focus on the EU, THE WIDER WORLD and GLOBAL ISSUES.
Coursework (25% of final mark)
This will be a 2,500 word report based on a fieldwork investigation when students learn how to produce a professional style document with statistical and graphical techniques — good practice for university and future careers. ICT skills are of course an integral part of the process.
Note:
1. Geography can be regarded as both an Arts and a Science subject.
2. Our Sixth Form courses are fully synchronised with the GCSE in terms of Examination Board and specification so the 14-16 course is a solid foundation for the 16-18 courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills will I gain?
Geography is a popular GCSE subject and is an excellent way to develop report-writing and cartographic skills as well as the use of statistical and graphical techniques.
What about visits and fieldwork?
Fieldwork is an integral part of Geography at all levels and forms the basis for your coursework at GCSE. We have started to run trips abroad with our Study Tour of Italy this spring and plan to do so in the future.
What use is Geography?
Geography provides openings for a wide variety of careers including journalism, tourism, environmental management, urban planning and weather forecasting.
How do I know it’s for me?
If you are interested in current events and issues that appear in the newspapers and the media and you are curious as to where they are happening and why – then you will enjoy studying Geography.
AS and A Level
What is examined?
The school offers AQA Specification B at both AS and A2 levels. They provide wide-ranging courses containing elements of both Human and Physical Geography. They aim to extend your knowledge of different environments and to examine important questions such as:
- “Is global warming happening? How will it affect the earth?”
or - “Where should we build new houses? Should we protect the countryside?”
Fieldwork is an important part of both courses so your studies will take you outside the classroom to collect your own data and analyse it. This means that you can put the textbook theories to the test!
Do I have the necessary skills?
Above all you should be interested in the world around you. In the field you will need to work as part of a team and be willing to take the initiative when you encounter problems. Report writing skills are an important part of the follow-up but your teachers will guide you and give you help with statistical and graphical techniques. If you take pride in your work this is your chance to excel outside the exam room.
It is helpful if you have already studied Geography at GCSE level but it is not essential. You will just have to work a bit harder to give yourself that knowledge base.
One of the main skills you will develop on these courses will be the ability to sift out useful and relevant information from a variety of different sources including periodicals and the internet.
How is it examined ?
AS
The three units at AS level are all taken in June of the Lower 6th and each of the exams is one hour long. The first unit is called “The Dynamics of change” and covers a variety of topics including population growth and its problems, issues arising from the use of energy resources; the water cycle, river landforms and the hazard of flooding.
The second unit investigates coastal environments and their management whilst the third unit concentrates on Urban Geography and changes in the industrial landscape. There are some links here with Business Studies and Economics.
Unit One has one question that is always based on fieldwork but there is no coursework element at this level.
A2
The three units at A2 follow on from and in some cases further develop topics covered at AS . Units 4 and 5 each have a one and a half hour exam whilst Unit 7- the Investigation- is the coursework element. There is a choice between this and Unit 6, a practical exam, but we do find that most of our students prefer the coursework option as it can be done in their own time.
In Unit 4 there is a whole section on Hazards including Hurricanes and Earthquakes as well as Burglary and Aids; the topic is synthesised in the case study of Los Angeles, a city of multiple hazard. In October of the Upper VI, there is a three day residential fieldtrip to Cranedale Fieldcentre in Yorkshire where data is collected from two contrasting areas of coastline which will form the basis of each student’s personal investigation. This represents 15% of the A level mark and is in effect Unit 7. The report is teacher marked and moderated by the Board. Unit 4 also contains sections on overseas investment, issues around multicultural societies and international migration as well as the EU and problems associated with Separatism. There are links in this unit with History, Politics and Geology.
Finally Unit 5, worth 20% of the marks, is a one and a half hour exam in the form of a Decision-Making exercise. Candidates are allowed to see the materials for this exam a month before it takes place so that they can get to grips with the issues involved. They then answer questions around a pivotal theme for which they are thoroughly prepared.