INTRODUCTION
Geography is an exciting and dynamic subject totally relevant to the world we live in today. It is a popular A level subject as it combines successfully with both the Humanities and Sciences.

Entry Requirements
Grade B or above at GCSE, although it is possible for students to study Geography without GCSE. This, however, will be with the consent of the Head of Geography.

Highlights
It delivers a lesson in life by offering:

• Environmental understanding
• Appreciation of landscape
• A sense of global community
• Team work through the medium of fieldwork
• Data analysis and critical thinking
• Discussive skills – both oral and written
• Investigative fieldwork

All candidates will consider:

• Their own values and attitudes towards important issues including nature, population pressures and climate change
• The varied roles of decision makers and how they impact on people’s lives across the globe

Fieldwork
Pupils must attend a compulsory field trip, currently to West Somerset. This 3 day residential trip will integrate skills learned in the classroom with their application in the field. Pupils will then apply the knowledge and experience gained to an exam paper in the summer of Yr 12. Other fieldtrips have occurred recently to Italy, Iceland and next summer to Hawaii.

Content

Unit 1 - Physical and Human Geography
Rivers and Flood Management / Coastal Environments / Population Change / Health Issues
Unit 2 - Applied Geography
Fieldwork / Geographical Skills / ICT presentation techniques / Graphical Skills / Map Skills / Statistics
Unit 3 - Contemporary Geographical Issues
Plate Tectonics / Weather and Climate / World Cities / Development and Globalisation
Unit 4 - Geographical Issue Evaluation
A unit where pupils are taught how to evaluate a wide range of geographical information and data. The information is given in advance and then examined through extended questions.

Looking Further Ahead
A wide variety of skills is developed by the geography student. These include the basic skills of communication and numeracy together with many of a more specific nature, eg problem solving, data collection, analysis and interpretation. Such skills are very sought after by many professions and there are numerous careers where A level Geography is an important qualification.