Geography

Geography is the study of the physical and human conditions of the Earth’s surface. These conditions, their causal processes and their interactions form the content and process of Geography.

Our aims are for your child to develop a keen interest in the environment around them and to understand the main processes, both human and physical, that affect our world. We aim for your child to acquire a well-developed sense of place through learning about a variety of different environments on local, national and global scales.  Particularly, we aim for them to begin to understand the diverse range of cultural, physical and economic differences that exist in the world so that they can develop an empathy for different regions, and also to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the physical world around them. Your child will become aware of the need to act sustainably in today’s changing world.

Your child will acquire the necessary geographical skills and move from studying familiar to unfamiliar environments.  We will encourage numeracy, literacy and ICT skills through the application of geographical information.

Your child will
develop a sense of environmental responsibility especially with respect to the conservation of the world’s resources and the idea of environmental sustainability

develop a greater awareness of other cultures, viewpoints, economies, societies, thereby contributing to world citizenship, understanding and tolerance
develop their competence in practical skills, using fieldwork to investigate the area outside the classroom and be encouraged to work with others in these tasks: to develop life skills for home and the workplace

What will your child study?

Year 7
An introduction to Physical, Human and Environmental Geography
The skills of map reading
Settlement, including its growth and change
Changing Shopping patterns
Aspects of British Isles Geography

Years 8 and 9
Aspects of Physical Geography, including the study of plates, rivers, volcanoes and earthquakes
Fieldwork studying river characteristics
Aspects of Environmental Geography including ecosystems and climate
Issues of development including population
Economic issues such as the globalisation of industry using football as an example
Aspects of Ghanaian Geography

How will your child be assessed?
Your child’s classwork and homework will be regularly assessed
Your child will be aware of the criteria against which assessments of their work are made
Your child will be praised with constructive comments from teachers used at every opportunity

Work set for your child will be differentiated
By providing extension tasks where necessary
By using a variety of teaching methods and modifying our approach as and where appropriate
By setting open-ended tasks whereby the provision of basic material supports the less able, whilst enabling the more able to develop the material more fully
By being praised according to the effort put into their work
By asking for LSA support where your child will benefit from it

Homework is used to support work done in class. Your child may be asked to
Answer questions
Complete worksheets on topics covered in class
Do research on an agreed topic
Learn locational details of places

What fieldwork and activities will your child take part in?
Your child’s learning of Geography will be enriched by appropriate fieldwork and to this end it is incorporated, where practical, into each year group. In Year 7 they will visit Saffron Walden town centre to study aspects of  its settlement.  These studies are integrated into classroom work helping the pupils to relate to  real places. In Year 8 we go to Epping Forest and undertake a practical study of river channels.

Studying Geography at GCSE is learning for life.  It helps you to understand the world in which you live and enables you to make informed comments about what is happening in the world today.  Geography studies environments, both natural and manmade, and how people live in them.  It explains the location of places and peoples’ activities in these places.  Geography encourages us to care for people and the places where they live.

Quotes by recent GCSE Geography students include:
"I’ll remember our field trip for the rest of my life!"
"I had so much fun. I learnt a lot and was never bored!"
"It was one of the best school trips ever!"

The world is constantly changing and it helps you to make sense of those changes.
Geography is a subject that combines well with most other subjects as it bridges the Arts and Sciences and gives flexibility for further education.

Course Content
During the course you will gain knowledge and understanding about the various topics detailed below.  As you study them you will learn a variety of skills which will be useful to you in many different aspects of academic study and everyday life.  These will include selecting data from a variety of sources including censuses, maps at a variety of scales, graphs, photographs, satellite images and information on the Internet.  During fieldwork (the location of which is determined by the choice of controlled assessment topic) you will collect data through questionnaires, interviewing, land use mapping, taking measurements and field sketching.  You will learn how to present the data using appropriate graphs and interpret the findings.  The field course gives you the opportunity to experience Geography at first hand.

The six topics studied at GCSE are split into two areas: physical geography comprising, at present, coasts, the living world and rocks, resources and scenery and human geography which includes tourism, population and urban environments.  These topics are tailors to pupils and current case studies are used to ensure the course is as up to date as possible.

Teaching and Assessment
Our lessons will vary in the way they are taught but during the course you will have to put together a good set of notes, many of which you will record with help from your teacher.  These will aid your revision at the end of the course.

You will have to complete a piece of controlled assessment, approximately 2000 words, which is worth 25% of the final examination mark.  You will have to collect data, using skills learnt from fieldwork, to find the answer to a question which is selected from a controlled assessment list provided but the exam board at the beginning of your course.  You will have to decide the best ways to present your data and then write up what you have found out and suggest reasons for your findings under controlled conditions.  You will improve your knowledge of software programmes as you complete your controlled assessment.  You will be given help and support to complete this work where possible.

At the end of the course you will have to take two examinations, each 1¹/₂ hours in length.  One examination is based on physical geography and the other on human topics.  You can take these exams at either Higher or Foundation Level according to your ability.

Specification: AQA Geography A 4032
Click here to download the current specification for this GCSE course.

AS and A Level

Why study Geography?

Geography is a relevant and stimulating subject that equips young people with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be effective citizens. In order to do this a full range of topics is studied across the physical, human and environmental spectrum, which allows students to develop an awareness and understanding of the world in which they live and to realize the importance of safeguarding the environment.

Geography bridges the Arts and Sciences, giving flexibility for further education courses. Taken with sciences like Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry, Geography supports applications for almost any science based university course like engineering, psychology, environmental sciences, oceanography and geology; taken with Humanities like English, French, History or Economics, Geography supports an equally wide range of university courses such as business, law, media, politics and philosophy.

It builds on, but is not dependent upon, prior knowledge of the subject at GCSE level. A pass grade at GCSE Maths is very useful as there is some use made of statistical methods during the course. It is recommended that candidates gained a GCSE grade C in English.

What is covered in the course?

AS
At AS level a balanced range of physical and human Geography topics is mandatory, with the Physical Geography component covering the topics of Hot Arid Environments and Cold Environments and building on the study of River and Coastal Environments from GCSE. The Human Geography component introduces topics such as the Energy Issue and the Growth of Tourism and continues with relevant issues, by examining Urban and Rural Change. There is an emphasis on ensuring that topics have relevance to the modern world and young peoples’ lives. Topics are explored in depth including by individual research and investigation, which may include fieldwork. Where appropriate modern information technologies, including geographic information systems, are used.

Assessment.

AS Unit F761: Managing Physical Environments
This paper has two sections.
Section A: Candidates are required to answer two questions chosen from four structured data-response questions which are each divided into four parts. To do this, candidates choose one question from either Coastal environments or River environments and one question from either Cold environments or Hot arid / semi-arid environments. Questions are based upon stimulus material, which may include maps (OS and other types), written material, photographs, satellite and other images, diagrams and statistical information.

Section B: Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from four extended-writing questions. There will be one question set for each of the four environments. The question answered must be on a different topic from the two topics chosen in Section A.
50% of the total AS GCE marks 1.5h written paper 75 marks
Candidates answer three questions.

AS Unit F762: Managing Change in Human Environments
This paper has two sections.
Section A: Candidates are required to answer two questions chosen from four structured data-response questions which are each divided into four parts. To do this, candidates choose one question from either Managing Urban Change or Managing Rural Change and one question from either The Energy Issue or The Growth of Tourism. Questions are based upon stimulus material, which may include maps (OS and other types), written material, photographs, satellite and other images, diagrams and statistical information.

Section B: Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from four extended-writing questions. There will be one question set for each of the four human geography topics. The question answered must be on a different topic from the two topics chosen in Section A.
50% of the total AS GCE marks 1.5h written paper 75 marks
Candidates answer three questions.

A2
At A2 level the Global Issues paper introduces optional units with the Environmental issues of ‘Climatic hazards’, ‘Ecosystems and Environments under threat’ and ‘Earth Hazards’ offered along with Economic issues of ‘Globalisation’, Development and inequalities’ and ‘Population and Resources.’
Geographical skills are examined in a written paper based on a chosen study from the content of the Global issues unit. This provides an opportunity to acquire new skills, such as more advanced statistical and analytical techniques as well as building on those acquired at AS level. This will enable candidates to use individual application, interpretation, evaluation and informed judgements with a degree of confidence.

Assessment.

A2 Unit F763: Global Issues
This paper has two sections.
Section A: Candidates are required to answer three questions, at least one from three questions on Environmental issues and at least one from three questions on Economic issues. All questions present a set of data and candidates are expected to identify any issues they show and suggest appropriate strategies to manage them.

Section B: Candidates are required to answer two essay-type questions, one from six questions on Environmental issues and one from six questions on Economic issues.
Candidates answer five questions.
30% of the total Advanced GCE marks 2.5h written paper 90 marks
This unit is synoptic.

A2 Unit F764: Geographical Skills
This paper has two sections.
Section A: Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from three structured data-response questions which are each divided into three parts. These questions are based upon stimulus material, which may include maps (OS and other types), written material, photographs, satellite and other images, diagrams and statistical information; and upon the skills and techniques used during the geographical research that candidates will have undertaken at both AS and A2.

Section B: Candidates are required to answer two extended-writing questions. Questions focus on the skills and the techniques used during the geographical research including analysis, interpretation, evaluation and drawing conclusions.
Candidates answer three questions in total.
20% of the total Advanced GCE marks 1.5h written paper, partly based on candidates’ own investigation/research. 60 marks
This unit is synoptic.

Specification: OCR Geography  AS H083  A H483
Click here to download the current specification for this A level course.