Geography

This geography course is demanding, intellectually stimulating and relevant. It is designed to highlight the main issues and concepts that young adults are likely to encounter in their current and future lives, such that they can make better-informed decisions and be sensitive to a wide range of viewpoints and challenges. The syllabus is issues and concept-based and enables students to address topics which suit their locality or offer suitable practical experiences such as fieldwork.

Students should have an awareness of the complexities of interactions within and between societies, economies, cultures and environments at scales from local to global. They should recognise the challenges of sustainability, be able to develop critical and reflective thinking and appreciate the importance of attitudes and values in decision-making. They should also be adept in the use and application of skills and new technologies, and be inspired by the world around them, gaining enjoyment and satisfaction from their geographical studies, understanding their relevance to their own and others’ lives.

Students undertaking this course will be well equipped to move into an extensive range of higher education courses in addition to Geography. While many courses may not make use of specific geographical knowledge, the Department feels that students would greatly benefit from the wide range of skills and techniques acquired through the study of Geography at ‘AS’ and ‘A’ level. These include communication, intellectual, practical, social and study skills; the collection of information and data through field enquiry; the presentation, analysis and interpretation of information; and the application and interpretation of statistical techniques.