Geography
The Academy Geography Department is based in three dedicated geography rooms on the top floor of the main building. All the rooms have been recently refurbished. There are four full time teachers within the department and a classroom assistant. Wednesday afternoons are used for departmental meetings and subject development.
At Key Stage 3 major changes are underway to overhaul the curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9. These changes reflect the new national curriculum for all subjects, including geography. We are phasing out the old and bringing in a new, more topical curriculum with an emphasis on cross curricular skills and competencies. All Key stage 3 students will find exciting resources available online through their 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 2008 the department plan to take 40 key stage 3 students to Sorrento in southern Italy to explore Mount Vesuvius, Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast: to name but a few of the famous attractions. There are a number of other trips in the planning stages as well: perhaps the Grand Canyon, USA will see our arrival in the not to distant future? Other trips running this academic year include: the Year 8 day trips to Robin Hood’s Bay; our Year 7 get to explore their local area and neighbourhoods; Year 10 spend a night and two days at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales National Park making a start on their coursework; and finally our Year 12’s spend three days in the Yorkshire Wolds with day trips out around the Middlesbrough and Tyneside area planned for 2009.
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 M Boud-Self | Teacher of Geography & Religious Studies |
Syllabus
Key Stage 3
Currently 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:
- Managing change in the Human Environment
- Managing the Physical Environment
- Managing Economic Development
Students are given the opportunity to:
- investigate the background to issues;
- understand the impacts and consequences involved;
- 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 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 |
2007 |
83% |
2006 |
60% |
2005 |
86% |
2004 |
81% |
2003 |
60% |
2002 |
77% |
Post 16 Geography
The world we live in is constantly changing. Geography allows you to see why and how it is changing. The Edexcel Geography course is a fresh new course for 2008 which invites students to investigate and explore, in part through their own research, the key ideas and hot topics of our early 21st century world. This content, together with the development of high level skills and a residential fieldwork experience, provides an excellent springboard for higher education or employment. For students who are curious about the World we live in, this is the course for them!
Many students combine geography successfully with science, arts or humanities subjects allowing for 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.
At AS level (Year 12) students study global themes, including globalisation and climate change. They will discover how their own actions can relate to the wider world, be it in our local area or a country far away. Students will study two units, ‘Unit 1’ and ‘Unit 2’:
- Unit 1: Global Challenges ― in this unit students study two topics called ‘World at Risk’ and ‘Going Global’. These cover exciting topics including Global Hazards, Climate Change and Future Global Challenges and Globalisation, Megacities and Migration.
- Unit 2: Geographical Investigations ― this gives students an opportunity to undertake geographical research, including a three day long residential field trip. They investigate two topics in depth, ‘Crowded Coasts’ (physical geography), and ‘Rebranding Places’ (human geography).
Assessment in Year 12
Unit 1: Global Challenges: 1.5 hour written examination, including a colour resource booklet.
Unit 2: Geographical Investigations: 1 hour written examination, including a colour resource booklet. Students will be asked about their fieldwork skills in this examination.
| Unit 1: Global Challenges | Unit 2: Geographical Investigations |
1 ½ hour exam |
1 hour exam |
| 30% of A Level | 20% of A Level |
What will students learn in Year 13?
At A2 level (Year 13) students learn how the world is contested and develop practical research skills in their chosen area of interest. They study two units, ‘Unit 3’ and ‘Unit 4’:
Unit 3 Contested Planet ― in this unit students consider five key world issues and in the sixth topic discuss possible technological solutions to the problems:
- Energy Security
- Superpower Geographies
- Water Conflicts
- Bridging the Development Gap
- Biodiversity Under Threat
- The Technological Fix?
Unit 4 Geographical Research ― this will allow students to develop further the investigative skills gained at AS level and prepare them for the demands of higher education or employment. They choose one topic from these six options:
- Tectonic Activity and Hazards
- Pollution and Human Health at Risk
- Cold Environments
- Consuming the Rural Landscape
- Life on the Margins: the global food supply problem
- The World of Cultural Diversity
Assessment in Year 13
Unit 3: Contested Planet: 2.5 hour written examination, including pre-released synoptic resources (4 weeks in advance) and a colour Resource Booklet in the exam. Part 1 of the examination will cover five of the six Unit 3 topics; Part 2 will cover the sixth topic in a synoptic context (i.e. pulling together aspects of the other five topics).
Unit 4: Geographical Research: 1.5 hour examination, including a pre-released ‘research focus’ (4 weeks in advance). Students will be asked to answer one question on the option of their choice.
| Unit 3: Contested Planet | Unit 4: Geographical Research |
2 ½ hour exam |
1 ½ hour exam |
| 30% of A Level | 20% of A Level |
Fieldwork
In Year 12, Unit 2: Geographical Investigations offers the opportunity to undertake fieldwork when investigating the topics chosen. Fieldwork is a great experience and allows students to apply classroom learning in a real world context and to ‘see for themselves’, applying knowledge and understanding in a practical way.
In Year 13, Unit 4: Geographical Research also offers opportunities for fieldwork; students won’t be asked directly about fieldwork in their exam but it may help them when discussing their research.
Further details of the course can be found on the Edexcel website at www.edexcel.org.uk.
If you wish to contact me please email j.cox@macmillan-academy.org.uk or phone us at the Academy.
I look forward to hearing from you!
