GCSE Geography

Geography is taught as an individual subject for six periods per cycle. Homework is given twice a week and should take approximately 45 minutes. A variety of tasks are set, eg reading, note making, practical tests, written work and reference to media events. In Year 10 the department follows the new AQA syllabus A examination course and in Year 11 for the final time we are following the OCR syllabus B examination course both of which build on work completed in Key Stage 3.

An investigative, issue-based approach is adopted for much of the work undertaken in the classroom and in the field. We provide a balanced coverage of physical, environmental and human aspects of the subject and highlight the linkage which exists between them. Studies take place at a variety of scales: local, regional, national, international and global, in different parts of the world and in different environments. The course emphasises the balance between the physical and the human, the inter-relationships between places, people and their environments, and the influence of social, historical, economic and political considerations on geographical issues.

Fieldwork is an essential part of the course, and all students are encouraged to participate in the wide-ranging field trip programme.