Geography A Level

Applicants will only be considered once all the application information has been completed including predicted and/or actual grades and references.

Applicants with non-UK qualifications, for example, overseas qualifications, will be required to have the equivalence of their qualifications verified by UK ENIC (the wider European title for national recognition agencies www.enic.org.uk) who will charge the you a fee for providing this ‘Statement of Comparability’. If you are unable to gain a Statement of Comparability, we reserve the right to withdraw your application due to the lack of comparable grade evidence. We are required to ensure that students are eligible for ESFA funding, which is guaranteed if they are living with a parent who: Has British citizenship and/or; Has a right of abode/leave to enter the UK and/or; Has a relevant work permit/visa and/or; Is a foreign diplomat.

Please provide any outstanding documentary evidence in relation to the above. Applications from students who are not eligible for ESFA funding will have their application withdrawn by the school. The school does not hold a licence to support applicants with Home Office Tier 4 Student Visa status.

Why Study Geography?

Geography matters. It matters because it’s relevant. Geography’s relevance stems from the fact that it can lie at the heart of government policy making, as well as affecting the way we live our everyday lives. It considers some of the most critical issues affecting the planet today, such as population growth and migration, hazard impact, globalisation and environmental degradation. To understand Geography is to understand your world.

Geography’s strength lies in its breadth. It draws together just about all other subjects and explains the link between them all. It is the link between science and the arts and looks at key issues such as sustainability, interdependence, and global citizenship. Universities and employers like Geography, as it provides you with so many useful and transferable skills, including analytical, statistical, presentational and research skills, useful in so many disciplines.

What Does The Course Involve?

A level

Component one: Physical systems

• Glaciated landscapes

• Earth’s life support systems: water and carbon cycles

Component two: Human interactions

• Changing spaces, making places
• Global connections: Global Migration and Power and Borders

Component three: Geographical debates

• Disease dilemmas
• Exploring Oceans
  

Component four: Investigative geography

• Independent investigation

An essential part of Geography is studying the environment first hand. The department organises a range of fieldwork opportunities to enable you to develop the necessary skills. These trips include a residential trip to North Wales at the start of the course to study glaciated landscapes and optional trips to support different aspects of the course, including; Iceland, New York and Malaysia

How Will I Be Assessed?

Exam board: OCR

A level

Component one: Physical systems

• 1 hour 45 minutes written exam; 24% of A level

Component two: Human interactions

• 1 hour 45 minutes written exam; 24% of A level

Component three: Geographical debates

• 2 hour 30 minutes written exam; 32% of A level

Component four: Investigative geography

• Internally assessed, externally moderated; 20% of A level

What Are The Entry Requirements?

To qualify for a place in Sixth Form, you must achieve five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, including Maths and either English Language or Literature or five GCSEs at grade 5 or above, plus at least a grade 4 in Maths and English Language or Literature.

For this course:: GCSE grade 6 in Geography and 5-4 in Combined Science/5 in a single Science

Leading To A Career In?

Geography is a subject that teaches transferable skills which help with many career paths and are highly valued in the job market. Geography is particularly useful for careers in: environmental management, international aid/development, logistics and distribution, market researcher, nature conservation officer, tourism officer, transport/town planner, cartographer, surveyor and geographical information systems officer.