Geography AQA
Why study Geography?
The world we live in is changing. Geography allows you to see why and how. It can enhance communication skills, literacy and numeracy, IT literacy, spatial awareness, team working, problem- solving and environmental awareness.
Geographers study the interaction between people and the places they inhabit. As such, it is a relevant and flexible subject which integrates well with a variety of other subject areas and can usefully be combined with the sciences (Maths, Computer Studies, Physics, Chemistry and Biology) or Arts (English, History and Modern Languages) or Social Sciences (Business or Economics). It allows the Science specialist to develop important literacy skills and the Arts specialist to develop important numeric and graphical skills.
Geography is highly respected by universities and is one of eight subjects that have been classified by the Russell Group of leading universities as a ‘facilitating’ subject. These are subjects more frequently required by universities for entrance onto degree courses. The skills Geographers use are also sought after by a wide range of employers. The close link between the subject and the world around us makes for a long and varied list of related careers. For example, working with development or aid agencies, environmental work, using Geographical Information Systems, working for the census office and in tourism and recreation. In addition, for those who study further - for example at Masters Level - there are more specialist careers,such as in Oceanography, Hydrology and Volcanology to name just a few. Statistics show that compared with other subjects, Geographers are among the most employable as they possess many and varied skills that employers look for.
Entry Requirements
As Geography is both a Humanity and a Science, we aim to attract students who have a range of skills. Fundamentally we need students who are good at extended writing and who are competent mathematicians. We therefore require a grade 5 or C in both of these subjects at GCSE. It is also expected that students would have achieved a minimum of grade 6 or a B in GCSE Geography.
What is Involved?
We follow the AQA syllabus and as such students study a total of six topics, which are evenly split between Physical and Human Geography. Students are taught two core subjects: Water and Carbon Cycles and Global Systems and Governance and then four optional subjects, including Coastal Systems and Landscapes, Hazards, Changing Places and People and the Environment. 20% of the qualification is gained through Non- Examined Assessment, which is an independent study which involves fieldwork. All students are required to undertake at least four days’ fieldwork in relation to processes in both Physical and Human Geography over the course of the A Level. To facilitate this, we run a residential field trip at the end of year 12 and this will complement fieldwork done on-site and in the local area. The location of the fieldtrip changes yearly depending on which optional modules we have decided to study. Past field locations include the Holderness Coastline in Yorkshire and Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. We also regularly run international trips which are not limited to Geographers but which appeal to those studying the subject. Examples of which include Trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, Patagonia in South America, Iceland, Morrocco, The Norwegian fjords and most recently The Alps. Next year our expedition is to Malawi with World Challenge.
