welcome to geography
The Academy Geography Department is based in two dedicated geography rooms. There are three full time teachers and one part-time member of staff.
Wednesday afternoons are used for departmental meetings and subject development.
At Key Stage 3 every student will be the proud owner of a new text book as we come to the end of a three year period of modernisation. We are phasing out the old and bringing in a new, more student-orientated book which the students have been highly positive about. Also at Key stage 3 students will find some exciting new resources available online! Every student has access to ‘Geog. World’ which compliments what is covered in lessons. This has a mass of useful information like; photos and worksheets; quizzes and animations; tips and web links, all available for free to Macmillan Geographers!
In February of 2007 the department will visit Paris again for the fourth year running. Our hugely popular and successful whirl-wind tour of the city never fails to excite both students and staff alike! (You can view some photos of last year’s visit elsewhere on this site). There are a number of other trips running this year also. The Year 8 day trip to Robin Hood’s Bay will give students some first-hand experience of Britain’s coastline and how we try to hold back the sea. Year 7 get to explore their local area and neighbourhoods. Year 10 spend a night and two days at Malham Tarn in the Yorkshire Dales National Park making a start on their coursework, whilst Year 12’s spend a week in the Yorkshire Wolds working on theirs. Watch this space for details of a new overseas trip in 2008!
Department Staff
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Mr J Cox | Head of Department |
| Mrs M. Ditchburn | Teacher of Geography / Head of Year |
| Mr H Gatland | Teacher of Geography |
| Mr. K. Proud | Teacher of Geography |
Syllabus
Key Stage 3
During Key Stage 3 students investigate a wide range of people, places and environments at different scales around the world. They learn about geographical patterns and processes and how political, economic, social and environmental factors affect current geographical issues. They also learn about how places and environments are interdependent. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom. In doing this they identify geographical questions, collect and analyse written and statistical evidence and develop their own opinions. They use a wide range of geographical skills and resources such as maps, satellite images and ICT.
GCSE
GCSE students follow AQA's syllabus 'C' over the two years. The cause is issues-based investigating contemporary geographical issues like 'climate change', the ‘energy crisis debate' and the ‘development gap' amongst others.
There are twelve' issues' divided into three sections:
1) Managing change in the Human Environment
2) Managing the Physical Environment
3) Managing Economic Development
Students are given the opportunity to:
a) investigate the background to issues;
b) understand the impacts and consequences involved;
c) consider alternative ways of managing these issues.
Assessment is based on three components
Paper 1
25% of the total marks
1hour 30mins
Paper 2
50% of the total marks
1hour 45mins
Coursework
25% of the total marks
2,500 words based upon local fieldwork carried out in April/May in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Paper 1 is a Decision Making Exercise (DME)
Paper 2 is three structured questions. Each one of the three questions is based upon one of the three sections of the course.
The broad ranging nature of the subject gives students a wide variety of transferable skills which can be used in other subjects and situations. The GCSE course also provides students with a sound basis for further study in Post-16 Education
Examination Results
GCSE's |
|
|---|---|
| Year | Percentage A* - C Grades |
2004 |
81% |
2003 |
60% |
2002 |
77% |
Post 16 Geography
The Edexcel Syllabus B Course provides a balanced course across physical, human and environmental geography. The wide ranging people - environment focus of the course, together with the development of high level skills, provides an excellent springboard for higher education or employment.
Many students combine geography successfully with science, arts or humanities subjects allowing for a wide ranging career opportunities. As care and management of the environment becomes an ever more important issue it is interesting to note that a significant number of students have gone on to pursue careers in this field.
The new 'AS'/'A2' level structure will mean that:-
In Year 12 - Three modules will be taken as a free standing 'AS' level courses.
- Changing landforms and their management. - river environments - coastal environments. (16.7%)
- Managing change in human environments - rural environments - urban environments.(16.7%)
- Environmental investigation - small group (or individual) fieldwork investigation in Keswick in the Lake District. Individual write up. Full key skills opportunity.(16.7%)
In Year 13 - Three further modules will develop this to a full 'A2' level course.
- Global Challenge - atmospheric process - ecosystems under threat. Global population and migration. Globalisation and the global economy. (15%)
- Researching global futures (15%)
One from the physical options:
- Environments and resources
- Living with hazardous environments
- Wilderness environments
One from the human option:
- Development and disparity
- Feeding the world's people
- Health and welfare
- The geography of sport and leisure
- Synoptic unit - issues analysis involving problem solving and decision making skills on a topic which combines physical, human and environmental elements of units 1,2 and 4. (20%)
- One resit is allowed per module with the best result counting towards the award.
- 25% of the assessment is through coursework involving both fieldwork and research.
- A three day residential course to the Field Studies Council at Blencathra in the Lake District is an integral part of the course. The data collection for coursework will take place here.
Further details of the course can be found on the Edexcel website at www.edexcel.org.uk