Subject

A level Geography 

Entry Requirements

5 GCSEs 9-5

You will need a GCSE grade 4 in both English and maths and a level 5 in geography.

Students not taking GCSE geography would be welcome to apply but should discuss this with the Head of Geography, who will consider their application and advise on alternative entry requirements.

Exam Board

AQA

Content relating to the subject qualification

Year 1:

Contemporary Urban Environments

Hazards

Changing Places

Coastal Systems and Landscapes

Year 2:

Fieldwork

Water and Carbon Cycles

Global Systems and Global Governance

The specialist teachers in the department do make occasional changes to the selection of units of study, according to their own on-going geographical research interests, and also the feedback provided by students.

Assessment of the qualification

All examined assessments takes place at the end of the course in year 2. The non-examined assessment (NEA) will be completed at the start of year 13.

A level exam:

Paper 1-40% Water and Carbon Cycles, Coastal Systems and Landscapes, Hazards

Paper 2-40% Changing Places, Global Systems and Global Governance, Contemporary Urban Environments

NEA-4000 word coursework 20% of total grade

Career Pathways

Geography is a highly regarded academic subject in the wider world of higher education and employment and in fact geography graduates are most likely to move into employment after university. Successful geography students will gain valuable insight and understanding into the world around them. They will also have developed the skills which are so highly regarded in employment: analysing data, articulating well-formed opinions, questioning evidence, undertaking independent work and learning.

Students may wish to continue with geography at university, either as a combined subject or focussing purely on human or physical geography. Most students will use geography as a stepping stone to many other degree courses and employment opportunities, especially in related fields such as Law, Journalism, Politics, Economics and Business Studies, Sports Science, International Relations, Languages, Social Studies, Police and Armed Forces. 

It is really such a flexible and well regarded subject in terms of planning for your next steps.

Extra-Curricular

The Department organises regular fieldtrips to consolidate student knowledge. Students must complete a minimum of 4 days fieldwork for their NEA Independent Investigation. So far this has been completed in our local area at Reculver and Margate but the department would like to take you further afield.

There will also be chances to visit London for Contemporary Urban Environments and geography conferences relating to the units of study.

The department also runs Ursuline Eco Club and would especially welcome the support of sixth form geography students with a passion for environmental studies.