GCSE Geography

This course aims to:

Stimulate a love of the world in which we live.
Help students understand the ever changing world in which we live- our world is likely to change more in the next 50 years than it has ever done before.
Explain why the world is changing and encourage critical thinking about the causes and consequences of change
Develop the life-long habits and skills that will be required to live, work and solve problems in a future world which will be very different to today’s world.
Provide a balance between Scientific and Humanitarian approaches to problem solving, a combination of skills highly regarded by employers.

Why study GCSE Geography?

Geography tackles the big issues:

environmental responsibility
our global interdependence
cultural understanding
commerce and trade.

The transferable skills which geography fosters are an asset in the complex world of employment today. Geography is about the future and encourages flexible thinking. It is less likely that you will spend all your life with one company or organisation (the 'job for life'), so flexible thinking is a great attribute.

What kind of student is suitable for this course?

Students most suitable are those who can:

make a concise report
handle data
ask questions and find answers
make decisions about an issue
analyse material
organise themselves
think creatively and independently
communicate effectively
demonstrate social, economic and environmental awareness
solve problems
learn in a team
utilise ICT to research and present their findings
show that they are well rounded, flexible thinkers

What career options are opened up by the course?

Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable. They possess the skills that employers look for. This is because the subject combines a knowledge of Science and an understanding of the arts. Geography graduates were surveyed about their career destinations. The results show:

40.6% went into management and administration

24.8% did further training, including PGCE for teaching

11.4% joined the financial sector

10.4% joined the retail sector

10% joined other professions, including the media.

Geography graduates have the lowest unemployment rate of any graduates due to the large range of skills they develop.

Course Structure

Content Unit 1: Global Geographical Issues

Topic 1: Hazardous Earth
Topic 2: Development dynamics
Topic 3: Challenges of an urbanising world Unit 2: UK Geographical Issues
Topic 4: UKs evolving physical landscape – coasts and rivers
Topic 5: UKs evolving human landscape including case study – Dynamic UK cities
Topic 6: Geographical investigations – physical (coasts or rivers) and human (urban or rural areas) fieldwork

Unit 3: People and Environment Issues – Making Geographical Decisions

Topic 7: People and the biosphere
Topic 8: Forests under threat
Topic 9: Consuming energy resources

Assessment Unit

1. Global Geographical Issues Examination 1 hour 30 minutes 94 marks 37.5%

2. UK Geographical Issues Examination 1 hour 30 minutes 94 marks 37.5%

3. People and Environment Issues Examination 1 hour 30 minutes 64 marks 25%

Key Contact

Mr Amer, Head of Geography

Syllabus Website

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/geography-b-2016.html