Geography

What will I study at Key stage 4?

The course is split into four units, each covering a different aspect of Geography.

Unit plus 1 Core unit

Unit 1 – People and the Physical World
Plate tectonics (volcanoes/earthquakes), rivers and coasts

Unit 2 – People and Places to Live
Population and settlement. Where and how we live, from the “one child” policy in China (no brothers, sisters or cousins) to why your second home in the Lakes really annoys the locals.

Unit 3 – People and their Needs
Quality of life, economic activities and energy. Industry is changing. What jobs will be available in the future? How will your food be grown?

Unit 4 – People and the Environment
Environmental issues, such as global warming and rainforest destruction, and how they affect the people of the world – including you!

What assessments will I do?

Assessment is split into three parts:

• An examination on the units 1 to 4 (50%)
• A skills exam which will test all the interpretative and analytical skills you’ve developed (25%)
• A fieldwork based project (25%)

Why should I do Geography?

Geography is an ideal subject choice. It is multi-disciplinary, drawing together ideas from many other subjects (especially Science) and applying them in a practical way to enable you to understand and solve real issues. You will develop many skills to do this, not just map reading but also collecting and analysing data from sources such as satellites, the Internet and your own fieldwork. Your ability to analyse different information and to solve problems and communicate both orally and in writing is an essential skill much sought after by employers.

What courses or employment can I progress to at the end of my course?

So Geography, what’s it all about? A simple answer is everything! People and their environment from rivers and coasts to population and cities, volcanoes on the other side of the world to your local shops! Wherever you look there is Geography, around you on the street, on the news and in other lessons.

• France and Belgium are important trading partners for the UK. Numerous West Yorkshire businesses have commercial dealings with French or Belgian companies so many local employers value knowledge of French.
• Many more French-speaking tourists visit England than do Spanish ones, so French would be an asset to anyone working in the tourist industry in our region.