Geography

By studying Geography to GCSE, it is hoped that pupils will: - gain a greater knowledge and understanding of a range of places and environments, and how people interact with them; appreciate the opportunities, challenges and constraints that are faced by people in different places; understand the significance and effects of the different ways in which decisions are made about the use and management of environments; and acquire and correctly apply a range of skills and statistical techniques to enable them to conduct a geographical enquiry.

Students in Year 11 will study:

Unit 1 Physical Geography – June Year 11 examination

The Restless Earth: The causes and effects of and responses to such hazards as earthquakes and volcanoes.

Ice on the Land: How the earth’s crust has been modified by ice.

Challenge of Weather and Climate: How climates vary around the world, explaining different weather systems and the evidence for and against global climate change. OR the Coastal Zone: studying coastal environments and their uses, habitats and challenges around the world.

Unit 2 Human Geography – June Year 11 examination

Changing Urban Environments: The decline of inner cities and the impact of traffic on urban areas. Pupils and may examine strategies used to improve the quality of life in squatter settlements in less developed countries.

Tourism: The pattern, changes to, and impacts of the tourism industry in different parts of the world and how it can be managed effectively.

Population Change: The distribution of people around the world and the characteristics of populations in different places, migration – its causes and effects, and the management of both populations and migration.

75% of the course is assessed by the two written examination papers as described above. Students will be entered either for the foundation papers (grades C - G) or the higher papers (grades A* - D).

The final 25% is assessed by a 20 hour controlled assessment using data collected through fieldwork, which for the last few years has taken place in Goathland.

There are many careers for which the study of Geography is advantageous as it covers such a wide range of skills and topics. The variety of skills covered equip students extremely well for higher education and the world of work. Our wide range of topics covering both physical and human sides of geography are becoming increasingly relevant in today’s ever changing world.

Year 10 will be following the new GCSE provided by AQA following government changes. The course is even more diverse, challenging and exciting. You can see the new changes by following this link http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035 .