Full Time Geography

Geography

Why choose Geography?
· Should Cambridge be allowed to spread on to its green belt?
· Why did the Boxing Day 2004 tsunami occur?
· What will be the effects, nationally and globally of the current increase in average temperatures?
A rapidly changing world scene also makes geography a vital, dynamic and lively subject. Being able to understand some of the processes behind the changes and being able to predict possible outcomes means that geography students have important skills necessary to help manage the future of the planet. The current environmental concerns of climatic change, sea-level change, pollution, population growth and landscape degradation are all important global issues. Geographers have a role to play in their solution and management because they study the underlying processes and their spatial interaction. Geographers are in particularly high demand for employment because of their high numeracy and literary skills as well as their ability to work well with other people in teams.

Key Features of Geography at Hills Road:
· Most years about 40% of our A Level students go on to read Geography or closely related subjects in higher education.
· Fieldwork is an integral and popular part of the course and involves occasional local visits using the College minibuses, and weekend and week-long residential courses in various parts of Britain.
· There is a flourishing Geographical Society run by students who organise talks, revision courses, social events and other field visits, usually abroad.
· The broad base of the subject means that there are numerous opportunities for all of the key skills to be practised and assessed within both AS and A2 level Geography.
· Open-access resources room with geographical software, books, magazines, project work, etc.
· A balance between Physical and Human Geography.
· A variety of issues-based themes.
· An emphasis on the dynamic nature of Geography.
Course Outline - (Awarding body: OCR) AS Level Units
Unit 1: Managing physical environments: coastal, river, hot arid and cold environments. 50%
Unit 2: Managing change in human environments: urban change, rural change, energy issues and the growth of tourism. 50%
Advanced (A2) Level Units
Unit 3: Global issues 60%. Three options will be studied from a range of environmental and economic issues including:
· earth hazards
· ecosystems and environments under threat
· climatic hazards
· population and resources
· globalisation
· development and inequalities
Unit 4: Geographical skills. 40%
There is no coursework in Geography, but fieldwork is a compulsory element of the course and will be tested in the geographical skills unit at A2 level.
A level results for Geography
Resources and Facilities
· All lessons are taught in specialist Geography rooms.
· A specialist Physical Geography laboratory
· An open access Resources Room equipped with computers, textbooks magazines, etc
· The opportunity to take the Advanced Extension Award
· Well qualified, enthusiastic and experienced teachers