Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4
"Of all subjects, it is Geography that best draws together the techniques of research, planning, communications and presentation that employers demand today".
Director: Transport Research.
The Edexcel B Course in Geography looks at the issues that are facing people in all parts of the world today, and asks how they might affect you as a citizen of tomorrow's world - and how you might be able to influence events. A wide range of skills (graphical, numerical, diagrammatical, analytical and language) will be developed over the course that will aid further study at AS Level or in future employment.
You will investigate how people are using different environments issues of sustainability, employment and natural disasters. Units include:
- Young and aged population issues
- Resources supply issues including energy
- Water provision and pollution.
- Tourism including eco-tourism
- Hazards including flooding, coastal erosion and flooding, earthquakes and volcanoes.
- Urban settlement issues including the changing nature of employment.
You will be required to take part in fieldwork as part of your course. The main visit is a fieldtrip to Box Hill (near Easter of Year 10). You will study locations as case studies for your Year 11 exams. From one topic of the fieldwork you must write up a report, including diagrams to present the information you have found out. This is marked by your teacher and the marks are worth 25% of your final GCSE exam result. The deadline for the coursework is the end of Year 10.
You will enjoy this course if you want to study a subject that
- is relevant to the world you live in, and to your future
- encourages you to discuss current affairs and issues
- focuses on the environment
- involves practical work outdoors
- is studied through investigation, not just listening and reading
- develops a full range of skills that will be useful in other subjects you study, and in employment
At the end of Year 11 you will take two exam papers, worth 75% combined of the GCSE at either the Foundation Tier or the Higher Tier. Decisions on entry to these papers are not made until after the Year 11 Mock Examinations.
Useful Resources
Textbooks:
- Managing Issues in Geography, Horden, Lamb and Milner, Hodder and Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-80216-2
- Issues and Environments, Payne and Jennings, Heinemann,
- ISBN 0-435 35359-4
- The New Wider World, David Waugh, Nelson Thornes.
- ISBN 0-1473-4314-0
- Coursework Skills Companion for Geography GCSE AQA C, David Payne, Heinemann. ISBN: 0-435-34017-4
- Revise for Geography GCSE AQA C, Payne and Jennings, Heinemann. ISBN 0-435-09995-7
Websites:
BBC Education http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/education/
BBC Public Access http://www.bbc.co.uk/
BBC Weather Centre http://www.bbcnc.org.uk/weather/
Climatic change Unit http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/
Climate Research http://meteora.ucsd.edu/crd.htm
European Union http://www.cec.lu/
Friends of the Earth http://www.foe.co.uk/cri/html/postcode.html
Global Classroom http://www.interco.net/local/weeg/
Guardian and Observer http://www.guardian.co.uk/
Kids Web http://www.npac.syr.edu/textbook/kidsweb/
Kobe City http://www.kobe-cufs.ac.jp/kobe-city/
Students are expected to keep up to date with Geographical Issues by reading a quality daily newspaper e.g. The Independent is very good on geographical issues (copies can be found in the school library). Also watching the news daily will help students keep up to date.