Geography

Geography: AQA GCSE (8035)

Geography in the Remove

The Remove begins with Hazards (13% of the exam) and we explore mapping, impact assessment and management for a selection of the following hazard events: Typhoon Haiyan 2013, the Nepal Earthquake of 2015 and the Chile Earthquake of 2010. Extreme UK weather events leading to Somerset Floods of 2014 will be considered. The causes of and responses to climate change are also studied in this unit.

Urban Studies (13%) involves the investigation of expanding, divided and changing cities. We study post-Olympic Rio de Janeiro, a global city of opportunities and challenges and Bristol, a city of international standing. The emergence of megacities, urbanisation, urban regeneration and sustainable living are all important themes in this unit.

UK Landscapes (12%) includes the study of rivers and coasts. Our river work includes a study of the River Tees and a trail along our own River Kennet to investigate the theory and practice of flood management. Our coastal study of the Jurassic Coast will include textbook and field studies of Studland, Durlston Head and Swanage. Management is a key theme in this unit.

Fieldwork is 15% of the exam. Our coastal fieldwork will involve one day on the Dorset Jurassic Coast, and another in our local university city of Bristol. There is an exam question on the fieldwork exercises.

Geography in the Hundred

The year starts with Resource Management (10%) which focuses on food, water and energy; all are fundamental to our human development. Carbon, food and water footprints, food miles, agribusinesses, the changing fossil fuel and renewable energy mix, water supply and water quality are some of the key concerns for this unit. Food is our chosen major case study, which considers food security and the Indus Valley project and advancing technologies and sustainable futures in Kenya. Ecosystems (10%) is the next topic with studies of our Trout Ponds, Malaysian rainforest exploitation and development issues in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Ecosystem links and interactions, and wider deforestation and desertification issues will be explored.

The Lent term topic is Development (12%) which considers global inequalities and strategies for reducing the development gap. Nigeria is a chosen case study.

Transnational corporations, trade, aid, quality of life and environmental issues are all investigated. We consider UK economic futures such as major transport infrastructure projects, quaternary industries, European links, the mixed fortunes of rural areas and the North-South divide. The importance of tourism to development of an LIC country, such as Jamaica, will be explored.

Finally, the Issues evaluation (15%) resource material is released late in the Lent term and topical material is researched and discussed in class. Thinking skills, not learning skills, are tested. There are 3 exam papers: a 90 minute physical paper, a 90 minute human paper and a 75 minute Fieldwork and Issues Evaluation skills paper.