Subjects Geography GCSE

Course description:

This is a subject at GCSE which really does focus on the places and events which shape our world. It is also practical with a wide range of opportunities outside the classroom. It links subjects such as English with the Sciences and so offers a good balance in the topics covered. There are two tiers of entry - Higher (grades A* to E) and Foundation (grades C to G). The OCR C course is a modern blend of Physical Geography (the natural environment) and Human Geography (people and their decisions). Some of the Physical Geography is applied, for example: How do people manage coastal erosion?

Course structure:

The course comprises five themes, four of which appear in the main written exam in May worth 50% of the course. The fifth unit will appear in the Decision-Making paper, which is worth 30% of the total marks. There is one piece of coursework that accounts for 20% of the qualification. ICT rooms are regularly used to support the course. There are a number of local visits such as to Brighton town centre and Seven Sisters Country Park and also a one week residential course in either Dorset, North Wales or Yorkshire.

Homework:

Homework is set weekly and involves a minimum of one hour of study per week, although this may vary from time to time. Students are encouraged to take a close interest in events on the news and/or documentaries of geographical significance. Homework may involve research, written short or extended questions, preparation for a presentation or extended tasks such as those for coursework. Work will often involve ICT either for research or for writing up.

Assessment, weighting and timings of assessments:

Coursework 20% - one item of fieldwork conducted in June, submitted in November of Year 11.
Decision-Making Exercise (D.M.E.) 30% - A 1¾ hour written paper taken in May of Year 10. This is based on one core module from the course and will involve students learning about issues in a booklet sent by the board one month prior to the examination.
Main Paper 50% - A 2¼ hour written paper taken in the May/June of Year 11 examines the four main syllabus modules.

Books, equipment, materials and resources recommended / needed:

Students need a good set of stationery in common with most other subjects. Scientific calculators are often used. The School has a basic range of standard fieldwork equipment. More advanced equipment is available on field trips from field centres. Specialist clothing and footwear can also be hired for such visits. Textbooks are provided and details of good revision guides and web sites are supplied.

Opportunities for study beyond Key Stage 4:

Geography AS and /or A2 make a great choice post -16. Blatchington Mill has a highly successful course in Geography in Blatch 6. This involves some exciting visits and investigates a wide variety of highly relevant and interesting topics. For more details look at the Sixth Form Prospectus. The knowledge and skills of the geographer are well received both by higher education admissions tutors and by employers. For example:

• Good communication skills
• Teamwork; Management skills
• Analysis
• Numeracy and Literacy
• Questioning
• Spatial awareness
• ICT
• Environmental and social awareness

Career opportunities supported by the subject:

Geography has links to many careers. These include direct links to jobs in planning, teaching, surveying and construction. There are however many other careers where the contribution of the subject makes it a very valuable component. The decision-making and ICT skills and world knowledge make it highly valued in management, foreign travel occupations, the financial sector and sales and marketing.