Geography

Course Information

The subject content is split into four units: 

1. Living with the physical environment

2. Challenges in the human environment

3. Geographical applications

4. Geographical skills

Year 10

Unit 1 - Living with the physical environment

This unit is concerned with the dynamic nature of physical processes and systems, and human interaction with them in a variety of places and at a range of scales. The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the tectonic, geomorphological, biological and meteorological processes and features in different environments, and the need for management strategies governed by sustainability and consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human interaction with the earth and the atmosphere. The topics that are studied in Year 10 are listed below: 

1. Unit 1 Section A:  Natural Hazards (Tectonic and Weather) 

2. Unit 1 Section B: The Living World (Rainforest Ecosystem) 

3. Unit 1 Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK (Coastal, Glacial and River Landscapes) 

4. Fieldwork: Pupils need to undertake two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data collected as part of a fieldwork exercise. 

Year 11

Unit 2  - Challenges in the human environment

This unit is concerned with human processes, systems and outcomes and how these change both spatially and temporally. They are studied in a variety of places and at a range of scales and must include places in various states of development, such as higher income countries (HICs), lower income countries (LICs) and newly emerging economies (NEEs). The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce a diverse variety of human environments; the dynamic nature of these environments that change over time and place; the need for sustainable management; and the areas of current and future challenge and opportunity for these environments. The units that are studied in Year 11 are listed below: 

1. Unit 2 Section A: Urban issues and challenges (NIC country – case study) 

2. Unit 2 Section B: The changing economic world 3. 

3. Unit 3 Section C: The challenge of resource management (Food, Energy and Water) 

12 weeks before the exams at the end of Year 11 we receive pre-information on a contemporary geographical issues, leading to a more extended piece of writing which will involve an evaluative judgement. Students will apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate the information and issues in the pre-release resources booklet and the question paper. They will also use geographical skills to set the issues in context and to examine conflicting viewpoints about the issues.

Students will develop a critical perspective on the issues studied, consider the points of view of the stakeholders involved, make an appraisal of the advantages and disadvantages, and evaluate the alternatives. The exam will also require students to consider physical and human interrelationships and to make reasoned justifications for proposed solutions in terms of their likely impact on both people and the physical environment.

We follow the AQA GCSE Geography specification. This can be found here:

AQA GCSE Geography Specification 

Geography Staff

Why Study Geography?

The video below explores careers linked to this subject.