HUMANITIES & modern foreign languages
A-LEVEL
GEOGRAPHY A-LEVEL
GEOLOGY
REASONS TO STUDY THIS COURSE REASONS TO STUDY THIS COURSE
3 To develop a range of essential skills for Higher Education
and the world of work.
3 You will learn about the nature of physical and human
geography whilst unpicking the debates surrounding the
challenges facing the world today.
3 You will develop analytical and note taking skills including
fieldwork study visits.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
Tectonic processes, Landscape Systems processes and change:
either Glaciated Landscapes or Coastal landscapes with a
minimum one day of fieldwork. Globalisation, Water Cycle and
Water insecurity, Carbon cycle and energy security, Climate
Change Futures, Superpowers. Global development and
Connections either Health, Human rights and Intervention or
Migration Identity and Sovereignty.
3 Combines well with the classic science subjects and
Geography.
3 Allows you to understand the processes that have created
the present pattern of continents and oceans and the
formation of economic deposits of metals and energy
resources.
3 Helps you understand natural geological hazards, as well as
those caused by human activity and the means of predicting
and controlling them.
WHAT YOU WILL STUDY
The Earth’s evolution and sustainable development,
uniformitarianism, geological time, the Earth’s surface, the
atmosphere and biosphere and more. You will take part in at
least two fieldwork days and a broad range of practical
activities, which will help prepare you for university courses.
HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED HOW YOU WILL BE ASSESSED
Year 1 (AS) – two exams
Year 2 (A-Level) – 80% exams, 20% coursework. Three exams.
A practical endorsement certificate is awarded by the tutor
following 20 lab practicals designed and monitored by the exam
board.
The certificate and fieldwork activities do not contribute directly
to the final mark, but are compulsory.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THIS COURSE
• an interest in Geography, demonstrated by knowledge and
appreciation of features of the natural and built landscape
and human behaviour in this geographical setting
• GCSE Geography is not a requirement though you should be
able to speak about your interest in the subject
• willingness and desire to get out in the field to gather data
(whatever the weather!)
PROGRESSION
Higher Education courses including Geography, Geology,
Ecology, International Relations and Town Planning, for example.
Apprenticeships and employment with a range of organisations
such as the Environment Agency, HM Government, United
Utilities, Peel Holdings and NGOs.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THIS COURSE
• average GCSE grade of 5 or above, including grade 4 in a
Science
• a good GCSE grade in English and ICT would also be
beneficial
• ability to learn and recall factual information is essential.
• we encourage students to combine Geology with Core Maths
as this will support the increasingly mathematically-centred
work undertaken in Geology
PROGRESSION
Many students have gone on to study Geology at university.
Possible careers include environmental management, travelling
the world working with natural resources, civil engineering,
natural and artificial hazard management and academic
research. Geology is a science course and will also help you
obtain a place on all science-related degree courses. It is also
possible to obtain an apprenticeship with organisations like the
Environment Agency or Centrica.
42
PRIESTLEY EXTRA PRIESTLEY EXTRA
As well as compulsory field trips to places such as the Lake
District, recent educational visits have included trips to Iceland
and Sicily, including climbing active volcanoes. Guest speakers
including Priestley alumni and visits to University Departments. Residential visits to geologically active regions are organised
every other year, usually to Sicily or Iceland. In all cases we
would be visiting active volcanoes and many other examples of
the natural power of planet earth.