This document provides information about the GCSE Geography course offered at Abbeyfield School, including example careers of people who studied Geography, the skills developed in the course, exam board and structure, topics covered, and reasons for choosing Geography. The course covers both physical and human geography topics like weather, climate, rivers, coasts, urban issues, development, and industry. Students are assessed through two exams and a controlled assessment consisting of a fieldwork study and cross-unit task.

1. GCSE Geography You’d be lost without it! WJEC B course from September 2010 Abbeyfield School http://abbeyfieldhumanities.blogspot.com

2. Who else has achieved success with Geography? Nicholas David James Hodgson is the drummer, backing vocalist and song-writer in the ‘Kaiser Chiefs’. He went onto Trinity & All Saints University College in Horsforth, Leeds where he studied Geography . Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE is an four-time Olympic gold medallist in rowing and broadcaster. After finishing school, Pinsent studied Geography at St. Catherines College in Oxford. John Hammond studied for a Geography degree at Salford University and an MSc in Meteorology before he became a BBC weatherman.

3. Choose Geography!

4. GCSE Geography at Abbeyfield School What essential life skills will I acquire? Team and group work Creative thinking Independent enquiry skills Self-management skills How to solve problems and justify decisions made How to collect and interpret data through fieldwork. Using secondary data to find out about different peoples, cultures & environments – research and filtering skills Reflective, analytical skills and communication skills Geography helps to develop broadminded and capable independent learners who are well equipped to cope with life’s challenges.

5. GCSE Geography Exam board -WJEC B (www.wjec.co.uk) Unit titles: 1. People & the Natural World 2. Challenges of Living in a Built Environment 3. People, Work & Development Avebury fieldwork

6. People & the Natural World Weather UK weather patterns Reasons for the weather we get, impact of weather events on our lives Storms, hurricanes and droughts Climate patterns Exploring how and why climate varies around the world Climatic change Global warming and rising sea levels Desertification Acid rain Human impact upon the environment Ecosystems Tropical rainforest ecosystems, boreal forest ecosystems, and the impact human activity is having on the natural systems Role of sustainable development)

7. Rivers Formation of natural landforms, such as waterfalls, meanders and deltas Flooding problems in the UK in last few years and reasons for this Coasts Coastal processes and landforms, such as formation of cliffs, caves, stacks and beaches How human activity is affecting the natural processes that occur along the coast Cliff erosion and coastal management schemes Impact of tourism at the coast Water Management schemes How do we provide enough water for the needs of an ever-growing global population?

8. Challenges of Living in a Built Environment Inequalities Exploring those that exist in urban areas in the UK and further afield, including the reasons for differences in quality of life in one town or city Changing urban environment Self help schemes in Kenya Re-development of London Docklands Improving access to water supply Improving squatter settlements Rural-urban interaction Effect of changing village life due to counter-urbanisation Commuter villages Effect of holiday homes on village life Impact of refugees on host country Access to national parks

9. People, Work & Development Employment structures How industry effects the wealth of countries around the world Impact of technology on jobs Trade and aid How trade effects a country’s wealth together with the notion of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ aid, Effect of globalisation on local cultures e.g. fashion, food, music etc Economic activity Types of work, Changes in industry over time and the effect these changes have on communities e.g. New investment in Swindon; changing patterns in South Wales Economic activity and the environment Effect of various industries on the environment e.g. Over-fishing in the North Sea, deforestation in Amazonia and tourism in our National Parks

10. How will you be assessed in Geography? Students are scheduled to sit a total of two exam papers (resits in June 2012 are available). (Foundation Tier = C – G grade) (Higher Tier = A* - D grade) 25% (15%) (10%) 18 hours – controlled and completed in school Controlled Assessment Year 10 Study (15%) Year 11 Cross Unit task (10%) 5 45% 2 hours Paper 3 Exam + problem solving (foundation or higher tier) 3 30% 1 hour Paper 1 Exam (foundation or higher tier) 1 Weighting Duration Title

11. Should I choose Geography? Yes, IF one or all of the following apply to you: You are interested in finding out about the world around you. The topics studied are of interest to you. You want a qualification in a subject that will help you in a wide range of careers and areas of study You want a future employer to see you as a multi-skilled individual with an understanding of the world around them. You want an academic subject looked on favourably by Universities For more information visit: http://abbeyfieldhumanities.blogspot.com On search for ‘Abbeyfield Humanities’ online