GCSE Geography
This course aims to |
- Explore our rapidly changing world, the processes behind this change and consider how sustainable this is likely to be as the 21st Century unfolds. Our world is likely to change more in the next 70 years than it has ever done and Geography explores how this may affect the human and physical world and how this change can be best managed. The course will:
- Explain why the world is changing and encourage critical thinking about the causes and consequences of change
- Develop the life long habits and skills that will be required to live, work and solve problems in a future world which will be very different to today’s world.
- Provide a balance between Scientific and Humanitarian approaches to problem solving, a combination of skills highly regarded by employers.
Why study GCSE Geography? |
Geography tackles current issues at a variety of scales from Global to Local :
- Investigating environmental responsibility from the large schemes accessing energy resources to local issues around the pressure on Green Belt land
- Studying global interdependence through commerce and trade and identifying the benefits and risks of Trade Blocs, Superpowers and Trans National Corporations
- Understanding the physical and human geography that characterizes the United Kingdom and the contrasting upland & lowland, rural & urban dimensions of our nation.
Geography incorporates a much broader range of skills than most subjects. As well as the obvious map skills, mathematical and numeracy skills are developed to enable data processing and interpretation ( from secondary data and field work), whilst English and literacy skills come to the fore in evaluating and explaining material and justifying decision making ( in Paper 3).
The transferable skills Geography fosters are an asset in the complex world of employment today. Geography is about the future and encourages flexible thinking. It is less likely that you will spend all your life with one company or organisation (the 'job for life'), so flexible thinking is a great attribute.
What kind of student is suitable for this course? |
All GCSE courses are designed to be accessible to nearly all students of course. Students likely to be most successful are those who already show an interest in the world around them either through the news and documentaries or being inquisitive when passing through a new area or landscape locally or in other parts of the country and world.
Students will be able to: • make a concise report • handle data • ask questions and find answers • make decisions about an issue • analyse material • think creatively and independently • communicate effectively • demonstrate social, economic and environmental awareness • solve problems • learn in a team • utilise ICT to research and present their findings • show that they are well rounded, flexible thinkers
What career options are opened by this course? |
GCSE Geography is part of the EBacc award and A Level Geography is a ‘facilitating’ subject, both designations reflecting that government, colleges and universities consider it a robust subject. A Level Geography is counted as a 2nd Science by many universities. Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable. They possess the skills that employers look for. This is because the subject combines a knowledge of Science and an understanding of the Arts.
A Geography graduate survey about career destinations highlighted: • 40.6% went into management and administration • 24.8% did further training, including PGCE for teaching • 11.4% joined the financial sector • 10.4% joined the retail sector • 10% joined other professions, including the media. Geography graduates have the lowest unemployment rate of any graduates due to the large range of skills they develop.
Course structure |
Unit 1: Global Geographical Issues
Topic 1: Hazardous Earth
Topic 2: Development dynamics
Topic 3: Challenges of an urbanising world
Unit 2: UK Geographical Issues
Topic 4: UKs evolving physical landscape – coasts and rivers
Topic 5: UKs evolving human landscape including case study – Dynamic UK cities
Topic 6: Geographical investigations – physical (coasts or rivers) and human (urban or rural areas) fieldwork
Unit 3: People and Environment Issues – Making Geographical Decisions
Topic 7: People and the biosphere
Topic 8: Forests under threat
Topic 9: Consuming energy resources
| Assessment Unit |
Type of Assessment |
Percentage of Final Grade |
|
1. Global Geographical Issues |
Exam - 1 hour 30 minutes |
94 marks - 37.5% |
|
2. UK Geographical Issues |
Exam - 1 hour 30 minutes |
94 marks - 37.5% |
|
3. People and Environmental Issues |
Exam - 1 hour 30 minutes |
64 marks - 25% |
Key contact |
Mr Kedwood, Head of Geography
Syllabus website |
http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/geography-b-2016.html