Geography is a core subject in Years 7, 8, and 9, with students receiving three periods per fortnight. In Years 10 and 11, students have the option to continue their studies by choosing either GCSE Geography or History.
Geography helps you to make sense of the world around you. It is hands on, it is relevant and it is fun. The course will give you the chance to get to grips with some of the big questions which affect our world and understand the social, economic, physical forces and processes which shape and change our world.
You will have the opportunity to learn a wide range of skills such as modern computer based mapping (called GIS), map skills, interpreting photographs, fieldwork skills, presenting, decision making, problem solving, role play and debating techniques. You will also improve your literacy skills through your report writing and written work and make practical use of your numeracy skills through interpreting data and constructing graphs. You will take part in two fieldwork activities which enable you to gain first-hand experience of some of the things you’ve learnt about in class.
The range of skills that you develop in Geography is highly valued by a wide range of different employers. It opens up a wide range of career opportunities such as sustainability and green issues, hazard management, urban regeneration, law and human rights, global business or medicine.
Three themes that cover physical, human and environmental geography:
Unit 1:Living with the physical environment
Unit 2: Challenges in the Human Environment
Unit 3: Geographical Applications
There are three written exams taken in the summer term of Year 11:
Unit 1: Written exam is 1hr 30mins in length. Question types (for all units): multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose (35% of GCSE)
Unit 2: Written exam is 1hr 30mins in length. Question types (for all units): multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose (35% of GCSE)
Unit 3: Written exam is 1hr in length. It includes a problem solving exercise based on pre-released material and questions on fieldwork and geographical skills (30% of GCSE)