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Dramatic landscapes and seascapes, the science of ‘what lies beneath’ and the vast forces that shape and are shaped by human existence all go to make up the stuff of Geography. Here, we seek to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. In order to achieve this, we equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. At root, Geography helps pupils to explore how the natural environment has impacted upon the human species, and, how the human species has, and is, impacting on the environment – for good and bad. With plenty of scope for field work in all Key Stages, it’s clip boards out, and anoraks and wellies on as pupils are encouraged to take a very hands-on approach!
Here, we study, the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time. The earth’s structures, plate tectonics, and population growth and its impact are studied, in addition to development and urbanisation, climate change and weather.
Outline of Syllabus
The course is based on a balanced framework of physical and human geography. It allows pupils to investigate the link between the two themes, and approach and examine the battles between the man-made and natural worlds.
The course comprises three key units:
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.
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.
Unit 3 – Geographical applications
The Geographical applications unit is designed to be synoptic in that pupils will be required to draw together knowledge, understanding and skills from the full course of study. It is an opportunity for pupils to show their breadth of understanding and an evaluative appreciation of the interrelationships between different aspects of geographical study.
Fieldwork and Geographical Skills will be running throughout the course.
Scheme of Assessment
The examination comprises three written papers (two of 1 ½ hours and one of 1 ¼ hours) each paper examining one of the three units.
Awarding Body: AQA Specification: GCSE Geography 8035
