Geography

KS 3
About the course
The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.

What they will learn
The study of geography includes:

• a variety of scales, from personal, local, regional, national, international and continental, to global
• a range of investigations, focusing on places, themes or issues
• the location of places and environments
• key aspects of the UK, including its changing human and physical geography, current issues and its place in the world today
• different parts of the world in their wider settings and contexts, including the European Union and regions or countries in different states of development
• physical geography, physical processes and natural landscapes
• human geography, built and managed environments and human processes
• interactions between people and their environments, including causes and consequences of these interactions, and how to plan for and manage their future impact

How it will be assessed
Assessment isn’t limited to a narrow range of evidence and is based upon a range of activities, outcomes and contexts. These could include assessing the learning as it’s happening through observation, discussion or focused questioning; involving pupils in the process through peer or self-assessment; as well as a written assessment every half-term. These are levelled using the National Curriculum level descriptors.

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KS 4
About the course
The overarching philosophy is that the specification provides students with a highly relevant and exciting programme. An issue based, investigative approach to geography is at the core of each unit. Candidates will further develop their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills, they will be able to widen and deepen their own views whilst appreciating the complexity and range of views held by others. The emphasis is on problem solving and enquiry throughout the teaching and learning programme through to the assessment phase (external examination papers and controlled assessments).

What they will learn
The specification consists of three themes:
Theme 1: Challenges of Living in a Built Environment
Theme 2: People and the Natural World Interactions
Theme 3: People Work and Development
The three themes are shown in detail on pages 12-19 of the Specification document which can be found at the link here.

How it will be assessed
Unit 1: Challenges and Interactions in Geography (30%)
Written Paper: 1 hour (Foundation/Higher Tier) 60 marks
Two compulsory structured questions, one from Theme 1 and one from Theme 2, each containing a choice of case study.
Unit 2: Development and Problem Solving Geography (45%)
Written Paper: 2 hours (Foundation/Higher) 90 marks
Section A
One compulsory structured question from Theme 3 containing a choice of case study.
Section B
A cross-unit problem solving exercise structured in three parts.
Unit 3: Geographical Enquiry (25%) Controlled Assessment
50 marks
An enquiry based on fieldwork (15%) and an Issue based on research (10%)

Exam board
WJEC

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KS 5
About the course
The specification has been designed to increase the choice offered to teachers and students studying GCE Geography, allowing for specialisation and progression to higher education and employment. There will be natural progression from GCSE to GCE, ensuring that there is development of content. Students will be given the opportunity to develop fieldwork skills and study geographical issues and impacts.
The qualification allows for two pathways to A Level. This gives students the choice of being assessed on a fieldwork investigation of their choice and fieldwork skills by taking the Geography Fieldwork Investigation paper (Unit 4A) or by taking the Issue Evaluation Paper (Unit 4B).
A key feature of the specification is the scope for teachers to choose topics to study within Units 1 and 3.

What they will learn
Contemporary geography is a subject which explicitly engages with the relationship of human populations to each other over space and time and their relationship with their physical environment at a variety of scales from the local to the global.
All units specified in AQA GCE Geography offer opportunities for candidates to consider:

• their own roles, values and attitudes in relation to themes and issues being studied
• the roles, values and attitudes of others including decision-makers.

For a full breakdown please see page 5 of the AQA Specification document here.

How it will be assessed
Unit 1 – GEOG1
Physical and Human Geography
70% of AS, 35% of A Level
2 hour written examination
120 marks
Structured short and extended questions
Available January and June
Unit 2 – GEOG2
Geographical Skills
30% of AS, 15% of A Level
1 hour written examination
50 marks
Structured skills and generic fieldwork questions
Available January and June
Unit 3 – GEOG3
Contemporary Geographical Issues
30% of A Level
2 hour 30 minutes written examination
90 marks
Structured short and extended questions, plus an essay
Available January and June
Unit 4 – either GEO4A Geography Fieldwork Investigation
or GEO4B Geographical Issue Evaluation
20% of A Level
1 hour 30 minutes written examination
60 marks
GEO4A – structured short and extended questions based on candidates’ fieldwork investigation and fieldwork skills.
GEO4B – structured short and extended questions based on an Advance Information
Booklet, released on 1 November for January examinations and 1 April for June examinations.
Available January and June

Exam board
AQA

Future Career Paths in subject
Education
GCSE Geography is now part of the government’s new English Baccalaureate. The subjects included in the English Baccalaureate are English, maths, history or geography, the sciences and a language. A level Geography is a traditional academic subject that is highly regarded by the top universities.

Employment
Geographers look at issues from a wide perspective and develop a range of skills that are attractive to a very broad range of future employers. Specific technical skills directly relevant to geography-related careers include field work, research and report writing, preparing maps and diagrams, and using social survey and interpretative methods.

Geography graduates are also adept in collecting and analysing information using various technical and laboratory-based methods for the collection and analysis of spatial and environmental information and recognising the moral and ethical issues involved in debates and enquiries.

Geography can lead to various professions including – Economic Developer, Locational Analyst, Charity Coordinator, Project Manager, Diplomat, Aid Worker, Social Worker, Housing Officer, Regional Analyst, Charter Surveyor, Cartographer, Coastal Manager, Geologist, Civil Engineer, Weather Presenter, Disaster Manager and Tourism Officer.

Head of Department:
Mr James Sharp

Email:
sharpj@cfbs.islington.sch.uk