Geography

KS3
The Year 9 programme of study completes the geography requirement for Key Stage 3.
The course consists of six units of work, each approximately 6-7 weeks duration.  The units of work covered are:

• The tropical rainforest
• Coasts
• Population
• India
• National Parks and Tourism
• Energy and the Environment

KS4
Entry Tiers and Grades
 
Students are entered for either the Foundation Tier or the Higher Tier.  Foundation Tier assesses grades G to C, and Higher Tier assesses grades D to A*.
 
Subject content
 
There are three components to be completed.  These are:
 
Paper 1 (Foundation Tier) or Paper 2 (Higher Tier) 

(50%) 2 Hours
 
Core topics include: 

• People and the Physical World
      - plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes, coasts and rivers
•  People and Places to Live
      - population and settlement
•  People and Their Needs
      - farming, industry, tourism, energy, quality of life 
• People and the Environment
      - water pollution, acid rain, global warming 

Paper 3 (Foundation Tier) or Paper 4 (Higher Tier) (25%) 1 Hour
 
This component assesses geographical understanding and skills.  These will include the interpretation of maps, including Ordnance Survey maps at 1: 25000 or 1: 50000 and photographs, which may include satellite images.
 
Coursework (25%)
 
Students must complete a single piece of coursework, which is based upon a day’s fieldwork undertaken in the centre of Stafford.  The coursework assesses a range of criteria.  These include data collection skills, the understanding of geographical ideas, the ability to present data in a range of appropriate cartographic, graphic and numerical forms, the application of ICT techniques, the analysis and interpretation of refined data and the identification of patterns and anomalies, and the explanation of key results.
The coursework should not exceed 3,000 words plus a selection of maps, graphs, diagrams and photographs.
 
Homework
 
A variety of homework tasks may be set, including:

• Written tasks focussed on subject content
• Follow-up exercises which re-enforce or extend that lesson’s learning
• Research tasks
• Reading in preparation for a lesson
• Practice examination questions
• Working on coursework
• Revision for tests and exams

KS5 Sixth Form
What Skills are Required to start the course?

A genuine enjoyment of the subject, and a wish to further investigate the physical and human environments around us.
 
GCSE Requirements
 
Minimum grade C in GCSE Geography with preferably a higher grade for those students wishing to take A2 level. 
 
Units at AS
 
1.The Dynamics of Change (20%) 

• Physical Geography- Shorter term and Local Change 
• People and the Environment- Population and Resources
• Human Geography- Changes in the UK in the last 30 years. 

2. The Physical Option (15%)

•  Glacial Environments or Coastal Environments or Urban Physical Environments (temperate Urban Areas) 

3. The Human Options (15%)

• Urban Change in the UK and the Wider World in the last 30 Years
  OR 
• The historical, rural and urban landscapes of England and Wales 

Units at A2

4. Global Change (15%)

• Physical Geography- Seasonal change, Long Term Change, Plate tectonics
• People and the Environment- Hazards, Conflict over the use of resources.
• Human Geography- Changes in the Countries in various states of development in the last 30 years
  

5. The Synoptic Unit (20%)

• To include a Decision Making Exercise or issues Analysis.
   

Either

6. The Practical Paper (15%) 
Or
7. The investigation (15%) 

Coursework

See unit 7 (the Investigation), a report about 3500- 4000 words, based upon a fieldwork enquiry.  Note that this is optional to taking the Practical Paper.
 
Possible Career Pathways
 
Town and Country Planner, Geologist, Tourist industry, Hydrologist, Teacher, Civil Engineer, Landscape Architect, Countryside Officer and many more.