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Sir Christopher Hatton

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Geography

CURRICULUM LEADER: MISS C BISHOP

bishopc@hattonacademy.org.uk

HEAD OF GEOGRAPHY: 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

The Challenge of Natural Hazards
  • Tectonic Hazards
  • Weather Hazards
  • Climate Change

The Living World
  • Ecosystems
  • Tropical Rainforest
  • Desert Environments

Physical Landscapes of the UK
  • Coastal Landscapes of the UK
  • River Landscapes of the UK

Challenges of the Human Environment

Section

Content

Urban Issues and Challenges
  • Global urban change and patterns of urbanisation
  • LIC or NEE city case study e.g. Rio de Janeiro
  • UK city case study e.g. Liverpool

The Changing Economic World
  • Global variations of economic development
  • LIC or NEE case study e.g. China
  • UK economic features

The challenge of Resource Management
  • Global overview of Food, Water and Energy as a resource
  • An overview of Food, Water and Energy in the UK
  • In depth study of energy

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 
              on any core content.

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