Penley, North Wales
01948 830291
| Advanced Subsidiary | AS |
| Advanced Level | A2 |
| Examination Board | Edexel |
"Geography is one of those richly comprehensive subjects whose relevance is all around us. Where we come from, what we do, what we eat, how we move about and how we shape our future are all directly the province of the geographer. More than ever we need the geographer's skills and foresight to help us learn about our planet - how we use it and how we abuse it."
- Michael Palin
The structure of the Geography courses is similar to the modular course which has been very successful over the last four years. The syllabus builds on the existing course but offers an even better content with a balance of human and physical Geography. There is the advantage of an award of AS Level at the end of the Lower Sixth. The AS course can be developed into a full 'A' Level with a challenging collection of courses in the A2. In addition to the geographical education there will be a strong emphasis for students to develop their key skills.
The AS comprises three units of assessment. It may be awarded as a discrete qualification, or it may be the first half of a full 'A' Level qualification.
Students will study the global hydrological system and coastal system as a focus for a detailed study of process, change and management. Riverine Environments will investigate channel and catchment processes and their management; hydrosere succession and structure; and the challenge of management and the impacts of human use.
Coastal Environments will investigate short-term dynamic coastal processes and longer-term impact of changes in sea level and their management; coastal ecosystems; and the challenge of management and the impact of human use. Links should be made via the interconnecting systems such as estuaries and deltas.
Students will study the processes operating in rural and urban areas, and how these vary over space and time. They will consider the issues facing these areas today, with a choice of contexts in which these issues can be set.
The unit will explore a variety of rural urban inter-relationships in countries at different states of development, and students will be asked to consider what the future might hold for these different environments.
A small group fieldwork exercise at Bettisfield Moss Nature Reserve linked to one of the components of the AS course, carried out over two days. Students identify issues, and follow a route to enquiry in order to consider the nature of the area, its importance and significance, the natural and/or human processes influencing it, and the degree of management.
Individuallywritten investigations will explore the wider context, discuss methodology of data collection (e.g. sampling), present finding, analyse these (selecting a range of techniques), conclude, and evaluate their findings.
The A2 comprises a further three units of assessment. Taken together with the three AS units, it leads to a full 'A' Level qualification.
This unit focuses upon global challenges by exploring processes and concepts woven around a theme of sustainability.
Physical themes include a study of changing weather and climate, focusing on mid latitude characteristics: changing seasons; and the long term issue of climatic change. It will also consider ecosystems at a global scale, offering a choice of biomes to investigate the challenges they face
Human themes investigate the global challenge posed by population growth, and issues of international migration. It also considers the changing global economy and the implications of globalisation for various groups of countries such as the EU, Asia Pacific countries and LECDs. Each theme links across to a research extension in unit 5.
Students will study two options, one predominantly focused on natural environments and one on human environments. These options grow out of ideas raised elsewhere in other parts of the course, and give students the opportunity to develop their independent learning and study skills.
As two options are studied, the volume of content will be less than the present single Global Futures unit. The one physical option is Living with hazardous environments. The second human option is Feeding the world's people.
The Synoptic unit will be designed to draw together Knowledge, Understanding and Skills from the whole course. A structured framework is provided for the development of critical understanding in both AS and A2. Enquiry-based learning should provide maximum Key Skills opportunities in problem solving and decision making, for example in planning enquiry simulations.
The overall focus, which is developed across the whole specification, is on conservation versus exploitation, and sustainability versus growth. The context will be taken from units 1, 2 & 4 but students can contribute their own ideas from across the whole course. Teachers will be provided with a framework for developing students' skills of Issues Analysis throughout the whole A Level course and across the varied units.
This specification offers many opportunities for students to develop the following key skills: Application of Number, Communication, Information Technology, Working with Others, Improving Own Learning and Performance, Problem Solving. Clear signposting of opportunities will feature throughout the specification, with fuller details in an appendix.
Increasingly firms are looking for recruits who are flexible and can offer the ability to adapt themselves to a variety of new situations. With current emphasis on inter-disciplinary skills, Geography students are well equipped to cope with these demands. The logical, systematic thought processes developed during the course are a perfect preparation for work and further training.
Teacher in Charge: Mr. G.J. Reardon