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Geography Department

Departmental Staff

  • Mrs T Bradley (Head of Department)
  • Mrs T McSorley
  • Ms T O’Connor
  • Mr P McNabb

Key Stage 3

In KS3 pupils have the opportunity to develop geographical skills to interpret patterns including mapwork skills. They have the chance to develop enquiry and fieldwork skills and to develop critical and creative thinking skills to solve geographical problems. Our students develop a sense of place through the study of a range of local, national, European and global contexts. The issues they study are of topical significance thus helping them to develop as individuals and as contributors to society.

Marble Arch Geo-Park: Limestone Scenery Study: Year 8

What will I study?

Year 8 Year 9 Year 10
·         An introduction to Geography

·         World Geography

·         The Geography of the UK

·         The Geography of Ireland

·         Map work Skills

·         Settlement Geography

·         Geology

·         Population Geography

·         Weather and Climate

·         Rivers

·         Earthquakes and Volcanoes

·         Development

·         Ecosystems

How will I be assessed?

There will be four formal assessments throughout the course of the year. October, December, February and an End of Year assessment.

 

Useful links:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/ks3geography/index.shtml

http://www.geography.org.uk/

http://www.geographyalltheway.com/

http://www.google.com/earth/

Key Stage 4

 

GCSE Geography

Through study GCSE Geography students develop knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts and how they affect our changing world; they begin to appreciate the importance of the location of places and environments, from local to global; they develop geographical skills and learn how to use appropriate technologies; they begin to appreciate the differences and similarities between people’s views of the world, its environments, societies and cultures. Students consider how they can contribute to a sustainable and inclusive environment; understand the significance of values and attitudes to the development and resolution of issues; develop and apply their learning to the real world through fieldwork and other learning outside the classroom; and have opportunities to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical thinkers with enquiring minds.

Key Features

Employability

o   Fieldwork is assessed through an external examination supported by primary data collection

o   There is one tier of entry for all candidates

o   Offers opportunities to build on the skills and capabilities developed at KS3

o   Sound basis for further study of Geography, e.g. AS and GCE

o   Top universities describe Geography as a ‘facilitating’ subject

o   Geography equips students with a variety of transferable skills

o   ‘Geography is a subject for our time … that make (s) geographers eminently employable’

o   ‘Geography: it’s the must have A-Level’ The Guardian 13 August 2015

What will I study?

Year 11 Unit 3: Fieldwork Year 12
Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World

  • Theme A: River Environments
  • Theme B: Coastal Environments
  • Theme C: Our Changing Weather and Climate
  • Theme D: The Restless Earth
This unit will be started in Year 11 and completed in Year 12:

  • Planning
  • Fieldwork techniques and methods
  • Processing and presenting data
  • Analysing and interpreting data
  • Drawing conclusions
  • Evaluating the fieldwork
Unit 2: Living In Our World

  • Theme A: Population and Migration
  • Theme B: Changing Urban Areas
  • Theme C: contrasts in World Development
  • Theme D: Managing Our Environment

 

Specification at a glance

Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World

  • External written exam: 1 hour 30 mins
  • Weighting 40%
  • Summer of Year 11

Unit 2: Living in Our World

  • External written exam: 1 hour 30 mins
  • Weighting 40%
  • Summer of Year 12

Unit 3: Fieldwork

  • External written exam: 1 hour
  • Weighting 20%
  • Summer of Year 12

 

Useful links:

http://ccea.org.uk/geography/

http://www.dardni.gov.uk/rivers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3hJK1BoRak

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18854073

http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators

http://www.one.org/international/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/middle-class-shopping-in-mumbai/11371.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/explanation-of-trade-deficits-ledcs-and-medcs/504.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/the-global-chain-of-trade/498.html

 

Year 11 River Study

 

 

 

Post 16

Through studying A Level Geography students will learn about:

  • geographical concepts and processes;
  • interactions between people and their environment;
  • the challenges of sustainability; and
  • the importance of attitudes and values

What will I study?

Year 13 Year 14
  • AS 1: Physical Geography
  • AS 2: Human Geography
  • AS 3: Fieldwork skills and Techniques in Geography 
  • A2 1: Physical Processes, Landforms and Management
  • A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography
  • A2 3: Decision Making in Geography

 

 Post 16 #3

Year 13 Sand Dune Study: Magilligan

 

How will I be assessed?

Year 13

Unit Assessment Format Duration Weightings
AS1: Physical Geography External written examination

Section A; Students must answer three short structured questions, one on each theme

Section B; there are three questions requiring extended writing, one on each theme. Students answer any two questions

 

1 hour 15 mins 40% of AS

 

16% of A Level

AS2: Human Geography External written examination

Section A; Students must answer three short structured questions, one on each theme

Section B; there are three questions requiring extended writing, one on each theme. Students answer any two questions

1 hour 15 mins 40% of AS

 

16% of A Level

AS3: Fieldwork Skills and Techniques in Geography External written examination

 

Students must bring a table of data and a summary statement to the examination covering the aims and context of their fieldwork (Magilligan)

 

There are two compulsory structured questions.

 

For question 1 students may be required to present, analyse, interpret and evaluate their fieldwork data and the techniques they used to collect it.

 

For question 2 students respond to quantitative and qualitative data from secondary sources.

1 hour 20% of AS

 

8% of A Level

Year 14

Content Assessment Weighting
A2 1: Physical Processes, Landforms  and Management External Written Examination

 

1 hour 30 mins

 

The paper has four parts. Each part corresponds to one of the four options and includes two structured questions. Students answer two questions, one from each of their two chosen options.

 

24% of A-Level
A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography External Written Examination

 

1 hour 30 mins

 

The paper has four parts. Each part corresponds to one of the four options and includes two structured questions. Students answer two questions, one from each of their two chosen options.

 

24% of A-Level
A2 3: Decision Making in Geography External Written Examination

 

1 hour 30 mins

 

This is a compulsory decision- making exercise in the form of a case study.

12% of A-Level

Useful links:

http://ccea.org.uk/geography/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/hottopics/climatechange/

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

http://projects.eri.ucsb.edu/understanding/

http://oiswww.eumetsat.org/IPPS/html/MSG/IMAGERY/IR108/BW/CENTRALEUROPE/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/savageearth/index.html

http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

http://www.un.org/popin/

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