This course will appeal to those students who:
* Have an interest in and concern for the environment
* Are interested in current affairs
* Enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experiences
* Want the opportunity to carry out practical work outdoors as well as classwork
* Enjoy independent learning and research, as well as whole class teaching, and group work
* Want to broaden their A-level studies to cover both sciences and humanities
* Enjoy travel and finding out about new people, places, landscapes and events
* Want to keep their options open - Geography A-level is an appropriate qualification for a very wide range of higher education or career choices
* Want to keep options open for university applications - Geography is one of the facilitating subjects at A-Level
During Y12 all students will go on a residential fieldwork visit to near Grange-over-Sands in South Cumbria. The field course provides the opportunity to study several aspects of the A-level course using real world examples. It also provides the essential fieldwork experience required for the Independent Investigations coursework as well as fieldwork related questions on the other examinations.
We also undertake fieldwork in Sheffield and encourage students to use our beautiful school grounds as a location for their NEA data collection. The department also offers an exciting enrichment trip to Iceland which may be available, subject to availability.
Course Details
What will I learn?
* What are the forces influencing our natural environment - the landscapes, the plants and animals and the weather and climate?
* What are the issues affecting people and the places where they live? How are cities and the countryside changing? Why are they changing?
* How are people affecting the environment we all live in? What are the opportunities, the challenges and the constraints?
* What are the economic forces that drive the world economy and how they are changing?
* What decisions are being made about the use and management of resources and who makes these decisions?
* An appreciation of current events and world problems such as the effects of natural hazards and the plight of refugees
* How to plan a fieldwork investigation. The collection of primary and secondary data and how to analyse it in a variety of forms for a coursework investigation
* Develop the ability to make links and connections across a wide variety of topics
* Gain experience of all six key skills
How will it be delivered and assessed? Edexcel GCE Geography
* Area of study 1, Topic 1: Tectonic Processes and Hazards
* Area of study 1, Topic 2: Landscape Systems, Processes and Change including Glaciated Landscapes and Change
* Area of study 3, Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
* Area of study 3, Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
* The student defines a question or issue for investigation, relating to the compulsory or optional content
* The student's investigation will incorporate fieldwork data (collected individually or as part of a group) and own research and/or secondary data
* The fieldwork, which forms the focus and context of the individual investigation, may be either human, physical or integrated physical-human
* The investigation report will evidence independent analysis and evaluation of data, presentation of data findings and extended writing
Students will be expected to show evidence that they have used both quantitative and qualitative data to support their independent investigation as appropriate to the particular environment and/or location
Assessment overview
* The investigation report is internally assessed and externally moderated
* The student will produce a written report of 3000-4000 words
If you have studied Geography you will have the following advantages:
* You will have developed skills such as using maps, photographs and diagrams, explaining your ideas clearly to others
* You will be aware of events around you and appreciate that people have different views and there are different solutions to issues
Career options with Geography include jobs which involve:
* Using maps and data
* Knowing about the environment
* Making decisions about location
* Sustainable management of resources and environments
* Working with people
Examples:
* Air traffic controller, archaeologist, architect, cartographer, civil engineer, conservationist, estate agent, environmentalist, farm worker, financial adviser, foreign correspondent, geologist, geophysicist, GIS technician, graphic designer, holiday rep, hotel manager, hydrologist, landscaper, meteorologist, outdoor pursuits supervisor, peacekeeper, planner, social worker, surveyor, taxi driver, teacher, transport manager, translator and travel agent
An externally-assessed written examination. A resource booklet will contain information about the geographical issue
It is not necessarily a requirement that you should have studied Geography at GCSE in order to take an A-level course in the subject, although inevitably most students will have done. Several topics covered in the course are developments of work covered at GCSE, but others are new. What is more important is that you should have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in the environment and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate your ideas effectively
Those students who have studied GCSE Geography will find that the material and the skills they have learned will prove a valuable foundation for further studies at this level. If you have studied Geography at GCSE you should have achieved at least grade 5. If you have not studied Geography previously we will look at your GCSE grade attainment and advise regarding the suitability of the course
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