Geography
ACTING HEAD OF HUMANITIES: Miss A williams
williamsa@hattonacademy.org.uk
HEAD OF GEOGRAPHY/2nd in Humanities : Mr H MacDonald
macdonaldh@hattonacademy.org.uk
KS3
During KS3 Geography, students cover a wide range of topics and engage with a large number of key Geographical skills which are vital to their GCSE study. Topics include skills topics such as Map Skills and World Geography as well as engaging topical issues such as Crime, Tourism and Disease. Students are encouraged to become inquisitive about the world around them, and develop a greater understanding of areas of the world which they have not previously studied. Skills are embedded which prepare students for both GCSE and A-level study.
GCSE
At GCSE students are studying the new 9-1 AQA GCSE specification. This new GCSE, for first entry in 2018, includes 3 papers and each of these will be examined in Year 11. These are: Living with the Physical Environment; Challenges of the Human Environment; and Geographical Applications. As part of the course, students will undertake two fieldwork experiences which will form part of the assessment for paper three. Details of the content are shown below:
Living with the Physical Environment
Section |
Content |
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The Challenge of Natural Hazards |
|
The Living World |
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Physical Landscapes of the UK |
|
Challenges of the Human Environment
Section |
Content |
---|---|
Urban Issues and Challenges |
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The Changing Economic World |
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The challenge of Resource Management |
|
The Geographical applications section of the GCSE is a critical thinking and problem-solving exam. Students have to apply knowledge from Physical and Human Geography to a contemporary geographical issue. They will be given a resource booklet around 12 weeks before the exam and they will have to make a justified decision based on interpretation of sources and own knowledge.
A2
Students are studying the new A-level Geography course offered by Edexcel. Over the 2 year course, students will complete 3 exams and a written Non-Examined Assessment (coursework) of 3,000-4,000 words based on fieldwork and research that accounts for 20% of the grade for the course. This will involve students completing a minimum of 4 days of fieldwork. Locations could include the Lake District and the Jurassic Coast (south coast of England). Geographical skills are examined throughout all three exam papers which are sat at the end of Y13.
Paper 1 |
Dynamic Landscapes, Physical Systems and Sustainability – 30% of Qualification (2 hours 15 minutes) |
Tectonic Processes and Hazards Coastal Landscapes and Change Physical Systems and Sustainability (Water and Carbon cycles) |
Paper 2 |
Human Geography, Human Systems and Geopolitics – 30% of Qualification (2 hours 15 minutes) |
Globalisation/Superpowers Shaping Places Global Development and Connections; Migration, Identity and Sovereignty |
Paper 3 |
Synoptic Paper – 20% of Qualification (2 hours 15 minutes)
|
Synoptic paper based on any of the core content. |
NEA (non-examined assessment) |
Coursework piece based on 4 days of fieldwork – 20% of Qualification (3,000-4,000 words)
|
NEA based on fieldwork; can be based |