Examination Board: Edexcel
Units Taken: Dynamic Landscapes, Dynamic Places, Physical Systems & Sustainability, Human Systems & Geopolitics.
Link to Specification: Click here.
Course Content
Tectonic Processes and Hazards and Glaciated Landscapes.
Globalisation and Regenerating Places.
This area of study focuses on the concept of globalisation, looking at how it has influenced the world’s economy and how as a planet, we are becoming increasingly interconnected. Students will also examine how both urban and rural areas have been regenerated and rebranded.
This area of study includes a residential fieldwork investigation (currently Barcelona, Spain).
Year 13:
The Water Cycle & Water Insecurity, the Carbon Cycle and Energy Security, Climate Change.
With the global population continuing to grow rapidly, pressure on key resources such as water and energy are of increasing concern. Managing these resources and developing sustainable solutions to the issue of water insecurity and providing enough energy to sustain our standard of living are of real importance. Students also develop an in depth understanding of Climate Change in this area of study, as a central concept to understanding human impact on these natural cycles.
Area of Study 4: Human Systems and Geopolitics.
Superpowers and Migration, Identity and Sovereignty.
Skills Gained from Taking this Course
The main skills gained during this course are debating skills, reasoning and oratory skills, investigative skills, analytical and practical hands on fieldwork experience.
The fieldwork experience has many transferable skills particularly in the environmental fields and research. Skills development occurs through a series of lessons, fieldtrips, and lectures outside of school.
Students are encouraged to attend these in order to broaden their learning avenues and become more independent.
St Marylebone Entry Requirements
To gain entry into the sixth form at St Marylebone School, students must gain a minimum of five 9-6 grades at GCSE and a 5 grade in English and Maths GCSE.
Subject Specific Entry Requirements
Grade 6 in Geography GCSE and a grade 6 in English Language.
Entry Suggestions
Geography is suitable for students who:
- Have an interest and concern for the environment
- Are interested in current affairs
- Enjoy studying a subject that is relevant to their own lives and experiences
- Keen to be involved in outdoor fieldwork
- Enjoy finding their own answers and solving problems
- Want to broaden their AS and A level to cover both Sciences and Humanities
- Enjoy travel and finding out about new people, places, landscapes and events.
- Want to keep their options open for future careers – Geography is an appropriate qualification for a very wide range of higher education or career choices.
If you are made an offer, you will be expected to complete the following before your first lesson in September:
Revise Restless Earth and Globalisation using GCSE revision guide. This is particularly important if you haven’t previously studied this topic at GCSE. Keep a log of natural hazard events (earthquakes, floods, volcanic eruptions, tropical storms) that happen over the summer break.
Resources Needed for this Course:
A Level Geography for Edexcel textbook (title yet to be published) Approximately £20 (price to be confirmed upon publication)
Field Trip to Barcelona (£500 paid in instalments)
This fieldwork trip is specifically designed to support Area of Study 3 and the Year 12 coursework investigation, and is run and taught by specialist teachers at the Barcelona Field Studies Centre. Students will gain essential skills in fieldwork technique, and be able to experience first-hand, both urban and rural rebranding in Barcelona city centre and Priorat, as well as the flash flood hazard of Riera de Ribes.