Geography

Geography in the Sixth Form will help you to develop a diverse range of skills, including communication, numeracy, graphicacy, problem solving, team work and thinking . The course is relevant to the real world and addresses contemporary issues. These elements help to build a solid foundation for the move into further education and indeed the workplace beyond. The nature of peoples’ working lives is changing and the development of a wider perspective and transferable skills in Geography provides a firm base for life-long learning. Statistics show that Geography graduates rank extremely high in employment tables.

Geography offers an ideal link between science and art choices, as favoured by a number of leading universities. A significant number continue with the subject at university, or use it to support applications for courses including Psychology, Medicine, Land Economy, Environmental Science, Oceanography and Geology.

The OCR A Level course offers a combination of new and familiar topics. There is a balance between human and physical sections and these will be taught by separate, specialist teachers.

In the Lower Sixth, the course covers two modules. Module 1 includes the physical units of rivers, coasts and cold environments. For the human side (Module 2), the topics of energy, urban geography and tourism are studied. Assessment for both is by structured, short answer questions and extended writing.

In the Upper Sixth, a range of contemporary geographical issues is studied in Module 3. These include earth hazards, ecosystems under threat and development and inequalities. The final module is based on candidates’ own fieldwork experience, again with structured short and extended questions.

There is opportunity for a variety of day and residential trips, most recently to Camber Sands for dune surveys and 5 days on Dorset’s World Heritage Jurassic coast. For some, the option of a visit to Belize in Central America has added an extra and unique dimension to studies.

Students who have enjoyed the GCSE course and show an interest in the world will love the challenges of this exciting A Level course. This year, 12 of the 25 A-level Geographers are continuing with Geography at university.

Exam board: OCR

For the full OCR Geography specification, please click here

Subjects on offer

A Level Subjects:
Art & Design
Biology
Business Studies
Chemistry
Classical Subjects
Economics
English Literature
French
Geography
German
History
Mathematics/Further Maths
Music
Music Technology
Philosophy & Ethics
Physics
Politics
Product Design
Spanish
Sport Studies
Theatre Studies

AS Level Subjects:
Electronics
ICT
Italian (GCSE/AS)