Geography - Courses
1J
The course (Key Stage 2) develops an appreciation of people, places and their interaction with a variety of different environments. Topics include: mapping skills, the study of a river basin, migration, settlement and energy resources.
First Form
The course (Key Stage 3) enhances previous map skills utilising the British Isles as a case study. Further topics include the site, situation and function of settlement, weather and climate with associated field techniques, people and climate and the global distribution of population.
Second Form
The course (Key Stage 3) is designed to provide pupils with a sound understanding and knowledge of geographical themes, issues and skills. The interaction between people and their environments at a range of scales, an appreciation of major climatic zones and their associated vegetation, the impact of tectonic activity and physical processes in the natural world upon decision-making are key areas of consideration in the course. It comprises 3 units: Natural Environment, Environmental Change and a Local Study.
Third Form
A regional approach (British Isles, Kenya and Japan) allows certain themes to be explored including the influence of landscape on human activities, population dynamics, the physical environment and development issues. Discussion and role play is encouraged throughout the course to encourage global citizenship and environmental awareness. A range of key skills and contemporary issues at Key Stage 3 are taught in order to prepare pupils wishing to progress to AQA Geography (GCSE), Specification A.
GCSE
The AQA Specification A (4030) course comprises traditional units of study over a period of two years. It is designed to develop an appreciation of the dynamic earth parallel to an increased emphasis on the problems arising from human and physical interactions in time and space. The use of case studies is seen as fundamental to achieve a meaningful understanding of the varied course units. Topics include global ecosystems, tectonic activity, climate, river, glacial and coastal landscapes, the development gap, globalisation, tourism and the changing urban and rural environments as well as problems arising from increases in world population. It offers a wide degree of choice, flexibility, a variety of geographical and transferable skills, and an awareness of contemporary issues within a manageable course content.
The assessment comprises three units:
Unit 1: Physical Geography (37.5% of total GCSE mark).
Section A:
• The Restless Earth
• Rocks, Resources and Scenery
• Challenge of Weather and Climate
• Living World
Section B:
• Water on the Land
• Ice on the Land
• The Coastal Zone
Pupils answer three questions, one from Section A and one from Section B plus free choice of one other topic from the list above.
Unit 2: Human Geography (37.5% of total GCSE mark).
Section A:
• Population Change
• Changing Urban Environments
• Changing Rural Environments
Section B:
• The Development Gap
• Globalisation
• Tourism
Pupils answer three questions, one from Section A and one from Section B plus free choice of one other topic from the list above.
Unit 3: Local Fieldwork Investigation (25% of total GCSE mark).
The School selects a task based centred upon the eleven topics from Unit 1 and 2 (above) two years prior to submission. These will be provided in the form of statements from AQA and will change annually. Pupils complete an investigation (maximum 2000 words) under the direct supervision of a teacher. It is expected that this task may take up to 20 hours with additional time to collect primary data in the field.
The controlled assessment requires pupils to use fieldwork to investigate one question or hypothesis at a local scale. Primary data collection must take place within the investigation. The assessment comprises:
Preparation (limited and high levels of control by teacher) includes a review: the focus of the investigation, techniques of data collection/presentation, skills of data analysis and structure. Research, Planning, Processing and Presentation (limited level of control by teacher) includes completing the introduction, methodology, processing and presentation of filedwork material. Pupils may take up to 4 hours carrying out research and preparing ideas for the field investigation followed by an additional 10 hours to complete the introduction, methodology, data processing and presentation (800 words recommended). No work is permitted to leave the classroom/laboratory.
Description, Interpretation, Analysis, Conclusions and Evaluation of the primary data (High level of control by teacher) requires pupils to work independently and complete this section under the formal supervision of a teacher. The time allocation for this task is 6 hours (1200 words recommended). No work is permitted to leave the classroom/laboratory.
A LEVEL: AS and A2
The AQA AS/A2 Specification (1031 & 2031) is designed to foster an appreciation of the dynamic earth and to develop an understanding of the synergy and potential conflicts between human cultures and their environment with a view to encourage global citizenship. The course offers a wide degree of choice, flexibility, a variety of geographical and transferable skills, and an awareness of contemporary issues within manageable course content.
The AQA - AS Specification is taught in LVI and covers the following Core and Optional topics:
Unit 1 - Physical & Human Geography - Core & Optional topics (70% of total AS mark, 35% of total A level mark).
Pupils study the Core elements and select one of the Physical Optional topics and
one of the Human Optional topics.
Physical Core: Rivers, Floods & Management.
Optional topics: Glacial, Coastal or Desert Environments.
Human Core: Population Change.
Optional topics: Food Supply, Energy & Health Issues.
Unit 2 - Geographical Skills based upon the content of Unit 1 (30% of total AS mark, 15% of total A level mark).
Skills include investigative, cartographic, graphical, ICT & statistical analysis.
Both Units are assessed by written examination at the end of LVI.
The AQA - A2 Specification is taught in UVI and covers the following topics:
Unit 3 - Contemporary Geographical Issues (30% of total A level mark).
Pupils must select three topics; at least one from the physical Optional topics and at least one from the human Optional topics.
Optional Physical topics:
Plate Tectonics and associated Hazards.
Weather and Climate and associated Hazards.
Ecosystems: Change and Challenge.
Optional Human topics:
World Cities.
Development and Globalisation.
Contemporary Conflicts and Challenge.
Unit 4 - Fieldwork Investigation (20% of total A level mark).
This Unit enables the pupil to extend and develop subject knowledge and understanding of an area of particular area of interest within the course content. The assessment comprises an examination of structured short and extended questions based on the fieldwork investigation.
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These two units are assessed by written examination at the end of UVI.
The new AS/A2 specification allows for the inclusion of up-to-date issues and events, which permits the use of material from contemporary news media and the Internet parallel to literature. There has been considerable investment in upgrading all AS/A2 text specifically selected to assess the pupils’ progress at both levels of enquiry. In addition, the pupils are encouraged to attend talks given by visiting Lecturers from the tertiary sector on a range of relevant topics in current Geographical research.
HIGHER
Higher SQA Geography (C208 12) is a popular subject choice in Scotland, largely because the course is illustrated with contemporary issues including climate change, population growth, the distribution of diseases, rural land degradation and urban management parallel to a consideration of the physical landscape. The course comprises 3 Units: Physical Environments, Human Environments and Environmental Interactions.
Internal assessments (NABS) are a formal component of the courses and are conducted in End of Unit Assessments which provide continual feedback on the pupils’ progression during the course and must be successfully passed before they take the external examinations. The final assessments consist of two examination papers (Paper 1: Physical & Human Environments and Paper 2: Environmental Interactions, equally weighted). Examples of the subject content are illustrated below:
• Physical Environments: Atmosphere, Lithosphere, Biosphere and Hydrosphere.
• Human Environments: Population Distribution, Rural, Urban and Industrial Geography.
• Environmental Interactions: River Basin Management, Rural Land Degradation, Development and Health.
Useful websites: www.sqa.org.uk & www.aqa.org.uk