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The study of geography is about more than memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world and appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.
Our mission is to cultivate a passion amongst our students towards having a critical understanding of the world in the 21st century. As a team, we want to take students on a journey of discovery and intrigue, immersing them in a range of different real-life examples from their local neighbourhoods up to and including global problems such as climate change. Geography is a wide-ranging A-level that brings together the importance of human societies and their culture, economy and politics at a global, national and local scale.
What will I study in Geography A-level?
You will study the following Modules:
A balanced Physical and Human Geography course with four modules. Two in Year 1 and two in Year 2
Dynamic Places
Dynamic Landscapes: Tectonics and Coasts
Physical Systems and Sustainability: water and carbon cycles
Human Systems and Geopolitics
Entry Requirements
5+ GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, all from the core subjects, including English Language and Maths.
How will I learn?
This course will equip you with both the geographical knowledge and skills to fulfil your potential within your A-level exam and also prepare you with the skills to become independent life-long learners with both initiative and thirst for learning.
You will develop the skills to present a well-balanced argument on a particular topic area in a range of essay marked questions. Alongside this, you will develop analytical skills from a range of data and visual sources. Also, you will develop a focus on a particular area of interest and complete an independent investigation using a range of data collection, presentation and analytical skills.
The course structure allows from day one the opportunity for you to explore your optional topics alongside critical topic areas. The majority of students have two lecturers, one who sees them for 3 hours a week and a second lecturer who sees them for an hour and a half a week. Each lesson builds on topic areas explored in the previous class, alongside scaffolding to support student gaps in knowledge, alongside provide students opportunities to stretch their understanding of topic areas further.
How will I be assessed?
80% of the course is assessed by three exams at the end of your second year.
The other 20% is done via fieldwork which will comprise either a Human or Physical Geography project carried out by you during the 2 years and will offer you the chance to develop a wide range of practical skills before creating a 4,000 word fieldwork report.
Any trips?
Students have to do four mandatory days as part of their Geography A-Level - locations will include the following:-
Cirencester
South Wales and Cardiff
Clevedon (coastal fieldwork)
Purton and Malmesbury
In addition, we offer an optional year one residential trip in the UK each year to help students with their coursework.
Additionally, there may be the opportunity to go on an optional international trip whilst studying with us - in the past, we have gone to Iceland, Italy and Morocco.
Also, you will have the opportunity to attend geography talks.
Are there any costs involved?
There will be small costs for course booklets and stationary.
The mandatory trips have a small cost attached to cover the cost of transport to the fieldwork locations - the cost in total will be approximately £40 over the year.
FAQs
We run a number of events throughout the year aimed at giving students the opportunity to explore progression possibilities.
In the past, this has included trips to a range of universities including Bristol, Cardiff, Worcester and the University of Gloucestershire.
This will vary throughout the year depending on if you are currently completing coursework or building up to an exam however, in an average week you are likely to receive between 1 and 2 hours of work a week.
If you are not also studying A-level Maths, taking L3 Mathematical Studies (Core Maths) could be a useful option to help support the work done in A-level Geography. This is a one-year course that you would take alongside your other 3 subjects, with exams at the end of your first year. Taking this would help to reinforce the data analysis work done in Geography, looking at presenting and analysing data graphically, as well as calculating the standard deviation of a set of data. Core Maths also looks at probability modelling, critical analysis and personal finance.
Awarding Body
EDEXCEL
Available As
[56 UCAS pts. available]
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What can I do after I have taken this course?
Available As
[56 UCAS pts. available]
Add to Application
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