Upton Hall School

GCSE GEOGRAPHY

The GCSE Geography course followed is AQA Syllabus A. This was chosen because of the way it builds on knowledge and skills already gained at Key Stage 3. The ideas of 'change' at Key Stage 3 are further developed into an emphasis on the 'challenge' of our world. This is undertaken in a way that is designed to stimulate all levels of ability while maximising a pupil's interest in real issues and themes that interrelate with the pupil's world. The course encourages pupils to see themselves as active global citizens, by discussing issues such as fair trade. It also develops pupils’ understanding of sustainable development through a series of decision-making exercises about how to manage different environments.

 

Pupils sit two general exam papers and undertake one piece of coursework. There are two tiers of assessment in Geography at GCSE: Foundation (G -C) and Higher (D - A*). The vast majority of pupils sit the Higher Paper.

 

Teaching and learning methods

At present in Year 9 pupils frequently undertake GCSE style tasks. GCSE will justify further development of the Key Skills already used in the various Geographical investigations.

The course is split into a number of self contained units. 3 units are taught in Year 10 and 4 are taught in Year 11. The syllabus states that the course is flexible in the units that are taught; however the more that can be studied, the greater the choice available to students in the examination. Geographic skills are taught as an integral part of this subject content. A range of teaching and learning methods are employed, focusing in particular on encouraging pupils to develop their ideas.

Coursework is undertaken in Year 10 and is completed by the start of Year 11, so as to balance the workload across the two years.

 

Assessment

The GCSE is assessed in three ways: two exams and coursework.

 

Paper 1 (worth 40% of the total marks and lasting 1¾hours)
People and the Natural Environment

 

Section A: Geographical Skills

This will cover skills related to the use of Ordnance Survey maps, photographs, sketch-maps, cross-sections, satellite images and other resources.

 

Section B: People and the Natural Environment

Pupils will answer structured questions on the following topics:

Paper Two (worth 35 % of the total marks and lasting 1½ hours)

People and the Human Environment

Pupils will answer structured questions on the following topics:

Coursework (worth 25 % of total marks)

The coursework is approximately 2500 words in length and builds upon the investigative skills which they have already developed throughout KS3. The coursework is based upon a single day field trip to Liverpool which enables pupils to make detailed comparisons on different urban environments. In addition to their primary data collection, they have the opportunity to develop their findings further by analysing a range of secondary sources.

 

ICT

The department makes wide use of ICT in the classroom and in the coursework. In particular this applies to the undertaking of research, its analysis and presentation. Increasing use is being made of the Faculty laptop suite to access relevant articles on the internet and present results for the coursework.

 

The Potential of Geography

Geography is a subject that appeals equally to pupils thinking of following a science route in their A levels or one with more of an arts base. Indeed the subject has long served as a bridge between the 'Arts' subjects and those of ‘Science'. This is where the true value of Geography lies - enabling students to keep their options open as to which route they will eventually follow.

 

Careers associated with Geography are therefore wide and varied from a city planner to a meteorologist; from a vulcanologist to an environmentalist or an industrialist. You may or may not be aware that it is possible to undertake either an Arts or a Science degree in Geography at University.

Core Subjects

Option Subjects

Non Exam Core Subjects