Geography
Why Study Geography
​
Most students enjoy the scope of the material they cover in Geography, the insights it can provide into understanding the world around us and the sheer contemporary nature of the issues it tackles.
This year has proven (yet again) the need for geography in schools. Bad weather? Rivers that flood? Storm surges? Earthquakes? Tropical Cyclones? Cities that are expanding? Farming catastrophes ? Ice caps that are melting? Climate Change?
These are the things of Geography. The news is filled with Geography from start to finish. In the Geography Department we make sure that our students understand the implications of these issues - the things that are behind the news.
Geography is more important today than at ANY other time!
Fieldwork
In Year 8 we conduct a River Study in Crawfordsburn, N Down. In Year 9 we have conducted Coastal Visits to the North Down Coastal Path. In Year 11 we conduct a river study in Colin Glen as part of our GCSE Controlled Assessment. In Year 13 we do a vegetation survey of the Murlough sand Dunes in Co. Down. In Year 14 we conduct a survey of on the Impact of tourism. Recent destinations for this have included Bangor and Newcastle.
KS3 Geography Course Details
- Year 8 - Making Connections, Population, Rivers & Flooding
- Year 9 - Weather, Tourism, Coasts & Settlement
- Year 10 – Tectonics, Climate Change, Rainforests & Development
​
GCSE Geography Course Details
GCSE Geography consists of 3 examined Units, taught as follows;
​
Year 11
Unit 1 (40%)
A - Rivers Environments
B - Coastal Environments
C - Our Changing Weather and Climate
D - The Restless Earth
Followed by Paper 1 Exam Module in Summer of Year 11.
​
Year 12
Unit 2 (40%)
A - Population & Migration
B - Changing Urban Areas
F - Contrasts in World Development
D - Managing our Environment
Unit 3 (20%)
Fieldwork Skills
Followed by Paper 2 & 3 Exam modules in Summer of Year 12.
​
A LEVEL Geography
By studying GCE Geography you will learn about geographical concepts and processes, interactions between people and their environment, the challenges of sustainability and the importance of attitudes and values. You will then be able to relate what you have studied to the world around you.
The AS course can be taken as a final qualification or as the first half of the A Level qualification. If you wish to obtain a full A Level qualification, you must complete the second half of the course referred to as A2.
What do I need to be able to take this course?
You should have successfully completed GCSE Geography at Higher Tier before enrolling for this course.
Year 13
AS1: Physical Geography. Exam Length 1 hour 15mins
- Rivers
- Ecosystems
- Weather and Climate
​
AS 2: Human Geography. Exam Length— 1 hour 15mins
- Population
- Rural and urban environments
- Global Development
​
Year 14
A2 1: Physical Processes, Landforms and Management. Exam Length 1 hour 30mins
- Plate Tectonics - Theory and Outcomes
- Dynamic Coastal Environments
​
A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography. Exam Length 1 hour 30mins
- Planning for Sustainable Settlements
- Tourism
​
A2 3: Decision Making in Geography. Exam Length 1 hour 30mins
​
How can this course help me?
Geography is an excellent subject to be used in the support of a University application. Geography is regarded as a facilitating subject by the Russell Group of universities and as is a highly respected academic qualification by employers.
This course can help you to develop a wide range of skills that are attractive to employers. For example, it can help to develop your skills in investigating, collating and evaluating information and being able to contribute to important debates on the current issues facing our world today.
You may just wish to study Geography for your own personal interest, but if you wish to continue the study of Geography at degree level, you will need to complete the full A Level course.
Staff
​
Mr N Massey MSc BSc PGCE (Head of Department)
Mr M Crawford MEd BSc PGCE
Without Geography, you're no-where.
​
- Unknown Author
Career Options
​
Geography is about 50% Arts based and 50% Science based so it blends well with most subject choices, particularly if you wish to keep your career options open.
Geographers are very employable. The choice of careers includes some areas in which their studies are put to direct use, such as environmental agencies and consultancy, GIS applications, planning, conservation and teaching;
The flexible skills that students acquire in Geography can reap employment dividends in many other fields – computing, financial services, management, marketing, the media, public administration, tourism, transport, and so on, across the alphabet of careers.
