Geography, A Level

Students should ensure that they meet the entry requirements for the courses they are applying for (available on subject pages) as well as the overall entry requirements (5 grades at level 4 or above but must include English and Maths).

Students need to choose a minimum of three subjects to study. Please note that all of our BTEC courses are single BTEC's and equivalent to 1 A Level, you will need to choose two further subjects if choosing a BTEC course.

Please ensure you have put contact details for yourself and a parent should we need to contact you.

Geography is about understanding the complexity of the world we live in. If we understand the geographical processes that shape our world, we can work towards building a greener and fairer future for everyone.

We aim to understand how a range of human and physical processes shape and create our wonderful world. Understanding these physical systems will help us meet the environmental challenges we face. Appreciation of the human processes allows to understand the complexity of our cities and the global economy. These will help us plan for a more sustainable future.

The course covers a very wide range of content, which is examined in considerable detail to develop a real depth of knowledge and understanding. The first year tends to focus on smaller scale often more localised issues which influence our lives. The second year tends to have a more global outlook addressing some of the big and thorny questions of today.

The course covers the following areas:

Physical geography

• Water and carbon cycles (climate change).
• Glacial systems and landscapes (understanding glacial & periglacial landscapes).
• Hazards (tectonic hazards, tropical storms, fires & locations which suffer multiple hazards).

Human geography

• Global systems and global governance (patterns of economic development & a critique of globalisation).
• Changing places (an introduction to cultural geography)
• Contemporary urban environments (the human & physical challenges of living in cities)

Geography fieldwork investigation

• Fieldwork requirements (non examined assessment).

• Grade 5 or above in GCSE English Language
• Grade 5 or above in GCSE Geography.

• Grade 6 or above English Language
• Grade 5 or above Maths