Subject Intent

How does space influence the people living there, and how do people shape the landscapes around them?  As populations and economies continue to grow, how can we ensure we remain sustainable and don’t run out of vital resources?  These are some of the big questions underpinning A Level Geography in a globalising world, where the skills of geographers are more important than ever.  

Studying Geography at A Level allows students to make greater sense of the world by organising and connecting information and ideas about people, places, processes and environments.  Students will engage with complex information about the world, including the relevance of people’s attitudes, values and beliefs. The course has a balance of physical and human geography throughout the 2 years, as well as improving their fieldwork and statistical skills.

Geography is a dynamic subject and we choose up to date case studies, with strands of interdependence, development, inequality, risk, resilience, sustainability and systems run through the curriculum.  A strong focus is placed on the importance of fieldwork and geographical enquiry, and fieldwork underpins many of the topics studied to support learning, including both day trips and a residential fieldwork opportunity.
We use a wide range of high-quality geographical source material, including high quality news and magazine articles, as well as school membership of the Royal Geographical Society, allowing students to access live streamed and recorded lectures across a wide variety of topics.  There are also opportunities to visit Geographical Association lectures at Nottingham University.

The A Level Geography course includes a balanced study of physical and human geography with students studying the following topics:  Water and Carbon Cycles, Coastal Systems and Landscapes, Hazards, Global Systems and Global Governance, Changing Places and Population and the Environment. In addition to this, throughout the course students will engage with qualitative and quantitative data, including observations, geospatial mapping, statistical skills and data manipulation.  These will be of importance when students undertake 4 days of fieldwork prior to carrying out their own independent fieldwork investigation. 

During the course we will carry out fieldwork on a variety of topics, including day trips to a local river, including critically reviewing flood management strategies and Kew Gardens, as well as a residential coastal landscape trip.

Geography students rank amongst the highest in university student satisfaction surveys, have some of the lowest graduate drop-out rates, and have higher than average graduate employment rates and earnings. For those not following a higher education pathway, the transferable skills that they learn during their A Level studies will support them in their chosen career. Students have an understanding of the natural and human world and the interactions between them, considering the impacts of systems and processes at a range of scales, as well as contemporary and cultural issues. Critical analysis underpins Geography, and collecting, understanding and interpreting large, complex data, as well as researching information and communicating findings effectively, make geographers highly desirable employees.  A Level Geography also teaches students how to use geospatial technology – a newly emerging and fast growing sector.  

 

Staffing

The course is taught simultaneously by two teachers, one teaching physical geography and the other human geography. 


Ms Barbara Woodward (Head of Geography) teaches both human and physical aspects of the course.

b.woodward@derbycathedralschool.org.uk 


Mr Chris Capon (Teacher of Geography) teaches physical geography.  

c.capon@derbycathedralschool.org.uk


Mr David Brierley (Teacher of Geography and Head of Year) teaches human geography.

d.brierley@derbycathedralschool.org.uk
 

 

Homework and Assessment 

Homework is set twice a week (1 per teacher per week) and includes a range of pre-reading tasks, podcasts, independent case study knowledge and exam style questions.  In Year 13, completing tasks towards the non-examined assessment (NEA) is also required.  Students are given deadlines for each stage of their NEA to keep them on track throughout the course.

Each topic has a mid unit and end of unit assessment in addition to the whole school PPE assessment schedule.

 

Independent Study and Revision 

All A Level courses require independent study in addition to homework.

Throughout the course, ideas for independent study could include:

 

  •         Pre-read the next chapter of the text book. 
  •         Self-quiz key words, terms and concepts from the last topic  
  •         Create flashcards to learn key ideas, concepts or quotes  
  •         Produce a mind-map for one of the themes within the topics  
  •         Practise planning and writing essays using practice papers 
  •         Make an information dump page related to one of the units 
  •         Write an introduction to an exam question 
  •         Write a conclusion to an exam question 

In addition, you will need to complete additional reading around the topic that you choose for your NEA.  Your NEA topic is finalised at the end of the first term of Year 12, and your teachers will be able to signpost you to specific additional reading, research and enquiry methods based on your specific topic.

 

Subject Enrichment 

Throughout the course we offer a variety of planned activities.  These include:

  • Local river study trip to critically engage with river management strategies
  • Local forest trip to understand how carbon can be measured in trees.
  • Trip to Kew Gardens to support understanding of tropical rainforests.
  • Residential coastal trip 
  • Trip to the Royal Geographical Society in London
  • Trips to Geographical Association lectures at Nottingham University 
  • Trip to study the regeneration of Derby

The Geography department are heavily involved with The Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Association and also are occasionally able to offer further enrichment and competitions as they become available.

 

Super-Curricular and Literacy 

When engaging in any material create a list of sources that you have engaged with.  It’s a good academic habit to get into, and you may need it when you complete your NEA.

Consider the following questions (and maybe note down to help you remember) 

   •    What is the argument in the book / article / podcast? 
   •    What evidence was used to support the argument? 
   •    Can you spot any problems with the evidence or the argument (bias, out of date information etc)? 
   •    Try to decide what you think 

 

Super-Curricular 

  • Search university Geography department reading lists (particularly for 1st year of undergrad) 
  • “Geographer” tends not to be a career.  Research the skills and careers that geographers do. 
  • Critically watch Hollywood portrayals of physical Geography and note how many errors you can find (The Day After Tomorrow and Twister are terrible!) 
  • Watch films and documentaries from around the world to give you an idea of other world views.  Be aware of the white saviour discourse in them (for an intro to white saviours look here https://mashable.com/article/what-is-white-savior)  
  • Follow these twitter accounts @rhulgeography @proghumgeog @dialoguesHG @noaa @ukpolarnetwork @rgs_ibg @The_GA @GeographicalMag 

Explore relevant on-line courses with MOOC (massive, open online courses) and others. Some examples are: 

Literacy 

Read a book related to the course. Some suggestions are: 

  • Prisoners of Geography – Tim Marshall (also other books by the same author including The Power of Geography and Future of Geography) 
  • The New Urban Crisis – Richard Florida 
  • When Rivers Run Dry – Fred Pearce 
  • Factfulness – Hans Rosling et al 
  • The Power of Place – Harm de Blij 
  • The Power of Place: How Our Surroundings shape our thoughts, emotions and actions – Winifred Gallagher 
  • Atmosphere of Hope – Tim Flannery 
  • The Bottom Billion – Paul Collier 
  • What Is Radical about Geography – Danny Dorling (also other books by the same author)