Geography

Examining Body: Edexcel (Pearson)

Entry Criteria: Grade 5 in GCSE English and Geography

Edexcel A Level Geography challenges students to engage with the physical and human world in new ways. Students are encouraged to look at issues from a wide range of perspectives and to appreciate that no one vision of the world is correct. This is a multi-disciplinary course that involves everything from essay writing to statistical analysis as well as critical decision making. The geography department organises a number of fieldtrips as well as a visit to Sorrento, Italy.

The A Level is split into 4 distinct sections that cover a wide variety of interlocking issues.

Dynamic Physical Processes (30%)

Topics in this section include Coastal Processes and Change, Geophysical Hazards, Earth’s Cycle (carbon and hydrological cycle), Energy and Water Security. These units take an in-depth  look  at  the  environmental  science of a physical world and the challenges they face. It also addresses the geopolitical issues associated with resource management, widely believed to be the greatest challenges we will face in our future.

Dynamic Places (30%)

Topics in this section include Globalisation, Diverse Places,  Superpowers and Health, Human Rights and Interventions. This area of study focuses on changes to the human world and how areas are connected or disconnected. It examines how our understanding of places are made and redefined by different groups of people according to their power and influence.

Synoptic Links (20%)

Throughout the course there are 3 recurring themes (key player, attitudes and actions, futures and uncertainties). Students will apply their knowledge from across the course to a place-based geographical issue, critically examining the issue to provide an evaluation of the sustainability of the issue given.

Independent Investigation (20%)

Students are required to conduct 4 days independent fieldwork during the course. The first 2 days help them build an understanding of a wide range  of fieldwork techniques and the fieldwork write up process in preparation for their Independent Investigation. Students will undertake a further two days in which they collect the data they require for their own investigation that accounts for 20% of their final grade. To help students complete this fieldwork, the department organise fieldtrips to Dunwich, London Olympic Park and Dorset.