Living with the Physical Environment:

• The Challenge of Natural Hazards, The Living World and Physical Landscapes in the UK.

Challenges in the Human Environment:

• Urban Issues and Challenges, The Changing Economic World and The Challenges of Resource Management.

Issue Evaluation and Fieldwork:

• Issue Evaluation contributes a critical thinking and problem-solving element to the assessment structure.

Students need to undertake two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data, collected as part of a fieldwork exercise. This involves a trip to the South Coast. 

You will have THREE examinations.

• Unit 1: Living with the Physical Environment – An hour and a half paper, worth 35% of the final GCSE mark. In the exam you are given some resources to use to answer questions on physical geography. We look at climate change, tectonic hazards, weather hazards, coasts, rivers, ecosystems, tropical rainforests and hot deserts. You are also expected to answer questions on places and events you have studied.

• Unit 2: Challenges in the Human Environment – An hour and a half paper, worth 35% of the final GCSE mark. In the exam you are given some resources to use to answer questions on human geography. We look at sustainable cities and transport, urban issues and challenges, our changing economic world and resource management, with a key focus on water. You are also expected to answer questions on places you have studied

• Unit 3: Issue Evaluation and Fieldwork – An hour and a half paper, worth 30% of the final GCSE mark. You are given a resource booklet twelve weeks before the exam on a topical issue. The booklet includes tables, graphs, maps and text. In the exam you are asked questions about the information from the booklet and asks you to make a decision about the overarching issue. This paper will also test fieldwork skills to do with Human and Physical Geography which we will conduct and practice over the course of the two years.

Students will travel the world from their classroom, exploring case studies in the United Kingdom, Nepal, Japan, Nigeria, Jamaica, the Philippines and many more places! Students are also encouraged to understand their role in society, by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes.

We have high expectations, and the Geography Department has an excellent record of making sure that students get very good grades. Geography is one of the most employable subject options and we have a strong history of Woodcote Geographers going to university to study the subject.

Studying Geography will open up a wide range of career opportunities in fields such as environmental science, urban planning, and disaster management. It provides a strong foundation for careers as geographers, meteorologists, cartographers, and conservationists. Students can also explore roles in travel and tourism, sustainability, transport planning, and international development. Beyond specific job roles, Geography develops critical thinking, problem-solving, and research skills, which are valuable in various industries. Whether working to protect the environment, plan cities, or analyse global issues, GCSE Geography equips students with essential knowledge for diverse and meaningful career paths.

Exam Board: AQA

Course Code: 60184103