Geography

Taught at Kenilworth School & Sixth Form

Exam Board: Edexcel 

Assessment Method:  

Paper 1 - Physical Geography: Dynamic Landscapes and Physical Systems and Sustainability,   2 hours & 15 minutes’ exam, worth 30% of A’Level. 

Paper 2 – Human Geography: Dynamic Places and Human Systems and Geopolitics, 2 hours & 15 minutes’ exam, worth 30% of A’Level. 

Paper 3 - Synoptic investigation of a contemporary geographical issue, 2 hours & 15 minutes exam, worth 20% of A’Level. 

NEA Non Examined Assessment - Independent Investigation based on fieldwork, 3000 – 4000 word report, 20% of A’Level.  

Why Should I Follow This Course? 

The Geography course is a contemporary, issues-based approach to both human and physical geography.  It covers a wide range of contemporary themes and issues, enabling students to explore and evaluate geographical questions and issues such as the consequences of globalisation, responses to hazards, water insecurity and climate change. Students develop an in-depth understanding of the world around us and foster an understanding of what could impact its future. The course develops synopticity and encourages students to see ‘the bigger picture’ and confidently link geographical processes, themes, ideas and concepts together across topics.  Students become critical, reflective and independent learners. Students can build on what they’ve learned at GCSE and what they see in the world today, and gain the knowledge, skills and understanding vital to success at A level and beyond. 

What will I learn? 

Dynamic Landscapes includes: Tectonic Processes and Hazards (cause of tectonic hazards is key to both increasing the degree to which they can be managed and putting in place successful responses that can mitigate impacts and allow humans to adapt to hazard occurrence). 

Coastal Landscapes and Change (Coastal landscapes operate as coastal systems and produce distinctive coastal landscapes, these are increasingly threatened from physical processes and human activities, and there is a need for sustainable management) 

Dynamic Places includes: Globalisation (global interdependence results in changing opportunities, cultural impacts on identity and inequalities as shifts in patterns of wealth occur. Tensions in communities and pressures on environments need to be sustainably managed) Urban Regeneration (understanding how places change and are shaped by social and economic processes. Urban and rural regeneration programmes involving a range of players. The success of regeneration depends on the extent to which places are changed). 

Physical Systems and Sustainability includes The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity (Water plays a key role in supporting life on earth. The water cycle operates at a variety of scales. Changes to stores of water are a result of both physical and human processes. Water insecurity is becoming a global issue with serious consequences and there is a range of different approaches to managing water supply). The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security A balanced carbon cycle is important in maintaining planetary health. The carbon cycle operates at a range of scales. Physical processes control the movement of carbon. Climate change poses a serious threat to the health of the planet. There is a range of adaptation and mitigation strategies that could be used). 

Human Systems and Geopolitics Superpowers have changed over time. Superpowers have a very significant impact on the global economy, global politics and the environment. The spheres of influence between these powers are frequently contested, resulting in geopolitical implications). Health, Human Rights and Intervention (development are based largely on economic measures but many new measures are used to record progress at all scales in human rights and human welfare. The impact of geopolitical interventions on both human health and wellbeing and human rights is variable and contested) 

Students are required to complete a minimum of four days of fieldwork investigating processes in both physical and human geography environments. Students can further explore a part of the course that fascinates them through the Independent Investigation. 

Where Will This Qualification Take Me? 

The world needs geographers. Confident, capable and successful geographers possess a variety of transferable skills, such as critical thinking, decision making and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. It’s well known that studying geography leads to a wealth of study and career opportunities. Geography is highly valued by universities, it is a facilitating subject which combines well with both arts and science subjects. It is a broad based subject with transferable skills that fits well for your future progression; for careers in sustainability, urban regeneration, energy supply, logistics managers, cartography, surveyors, conservation officers, environmental planners and consultancy, geospatial analysts, geographic information systems. Also for careers in business, global economics, law, human rights, international relations or even medicine.  

Entry Requirements: Students need at least a grade 6 or above in Geography to study it at A level