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Geography (GCE A Level)
Shelley College
Huddersfield Road, Shelley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD8 8NL
Available start dates
Available start dates
Course Summary
Why study Geography?
Geography is the study of Earth and how humans interact with it; it is considered by many universities (including the Russell Group universities) as a very desirable A Level and was identified as ‘the must have A Level’ by The Guardian in 2O15. Geography also combines well with both Arts and Sciences. The world is in a constant state of change and Geography is the subject that will help you predict and adapt to future changes in both the human and natural world. It is the subject that looks at major issues of the 21st Century such as changes in global governance and the conflicts it leads to, the changing nature of places, the impacts of climate change and the impacts of natural hazards. It is also a subject that fosters the innovative use of both teacher led and individual field work which assists the development of skills such as data analysis, team work, research skills and report writing.
Course Details
How will it be delivered and assessed?
Unit 3: Contemporary
Geographical Issues
2.5 hours (30% of the total A Level marks).
Unit 4A: Geography Fieldwork
Investigation 1.5 hours
(20% of the total A Level marks).
The new specification allows for specialisation and
progression to higher education and employment. There is a more natural progression from GCSE to GCE.
Students will be given opportunities to develop fieldwork skills and study geographical issues and impacts.
Fieldwork is compulsory and will include day trips or a
residential trip to a UK location. Fieldwork will be used to generate ideas and collect primary data which will
prepare students for Unit 4A.
The new specification balances what most people would consider to be traditional geography with a more
contemporary and modern view of the discipline.
Key themes are the management of change and
sustainability as well as the understanding of conflicts.
Some of the topics that are studied in detail include
immigration to the UK, the environmental, social and
economic effects of where our food comes from and the
impact of extreme weather events and climate change.
The course is designed to encourage students to reflect on why they think the way they do about an issue as well as how others think; skills that are vital for citizens In the 21st Century.
Entry requirements
The aim of our entry criteria policy is to ensure students are taking courses they are well suited to and are able to make progress in. We seek to provide courses well matched to the needs of our students, helping them to follow their chosen progression pathway.
Our main College entry requirements are as follows;
Entry Requirements
A minimum of five 9-4 grades at GCSE, including English and Maths (at least to Level 4) from five different subject areas.
Purely vocational pathway require a minimum of four 9-4 grades at GCSE, including English and Maths (at least to Level 4) from four different subject areas.
There will be three pathways which students can follow based on an average grade produced from their seven best GCSE results. The calculation being used for this van be seen overleaf.
Pathway
Average Grade
Programme of study
1
Average grade of 7 or higher
3 or 4 A Levels
2
Average grade of 5 to 6.9
3 A Levels or a mixed A Level and Vocational pathway
3
Average grade of less than 5
Mixed (A Level and Vocational) or Vocational pathway
The method for calculating your average grade and additional subject requirements are within our full entry criteria document which can be found on the Sixth Form section of our website:
http://home.shelleycollege.org/sixth-form/how-to-apply
As well as our general entry requirements, there are certain subjects which hold individual expectations based on GCSE outcomes.
For more courses like this, check our courses page.