Geography – Miss E Walters (Subject Leader: Geography)

(Please note that this GCSE course is available in the time normally allocated to one option subject or two option subjects, the latter to cater for students who may require a less demanding curriculum pace.)

The course is extremely relevant to life in a rapidly changing world, as students are encouraged to find out about the challenges and opportunities that our global society offers. They will discover how people are managing and using different environments, both at home and abroad and investigate important environmental issues such as sustainability. Students should have an interest in current affairs and the world around them. We follow the ‘Edexcel B’ syllabus.

The topics to be studied are as follows:

Unit 1: The Dynamic Planet:

• Restless Earth: Tectonic processes, volcanoes and earthquakes and how to manage them.
• Climate and Change: Climate change in the past and the challenges that future climate changes may pose.
• Battle for the Biosphere: Different environments around the world, and the pressures they are under from humans.
• Water World: The Water cycle and the impact of unreliable water supply on humans. The ways that water resources can be managed.
• Small scale dynamic planet: Coastal Change and Conflict. The physical processes which shape coastlines, and the conflict which can occur along a coast.
• Large scale dynamic planet: Extreme Climates. The climate of an extreme environment such as a desert and how flora, fauna and humans have adapted to the climate. The threats facing this environment, and the ways it can be managed.

Unit 2: People and the Planet

• Population Dynamics. Population growth and migration around the world. Ways which countries manage these issues
• Consuming Resources. Variation in the consumption of resources around the world and the challenges facing the world in terms of making resources last.
• Living Spaces. Contrasts around the world between different living spaces. The pressure put on rural and urban areas by the growing population and strategies to make living spaces sustainable.
• Making a living. Employment around the world, and the impacts of employment change on the environment.
• Small scale people and the planet: Changing Cities. The key issues facing urban areas and the ways these can be resolved.
• Large scale people and the planet. World of Work. Changes in the global economy e.g. the growth of TNCs. The future of the economy.

Unit 3: Making Geographical Decisions

This unit will give pupils the opportunity to investigate geographical issues. The students will study a pre-released theme and then sit an exam based on this, where they will have a number of resources and have to complete a series of tasks. An example of issues which could be studied:
The Future of Antarctica- how should it be developed in the future?
The Sustainable use of forests- what is the best way of using the rainforests?
Employment opportunities in South Wales- what types of industry should be attracted to the area?

Unit 4: Researching Geography

This unit is the fieldwork investigation based on an urban study to Reading. Pupils will carry out fieldwork and complete a report on it, based on a theme pre-released by the exam board. This will be under more controlled conditions than has been the case in the past.

Assessment

Unit 1: A 1 hour exam worth 50 marks (25%). This will include a variety of question types such as short answer questions, graphical and extended answer questions.
Unit 2: As with Unit 1.
Unit 3: A 1 hour exam worth 50 marks (25%). This will shorter answer questions, and
extended writing.
Unit 4: Worth 50 marks (25%). Internally marked and externally moderated.