Geography

Geography is a force for broadening the mind (Michael Palin)

Its scope is necessarily vast and, in being so, it is a subject rich in colour, diversity, range and content. The Geographer must be able nimbly to link data, ideas and concepts across varying temporal and spatial scales. Observation, critical analysis and evaluation reflective are essential skills that are actively developed at all levels of the subject. It is inherently multidisciplinary in a world that increasingly values people who have the skills needed to work across the physical and social sciences. Geography helps us to understand why places are the way they are and challenges our perspectives.

Extracurricular

The department takes great pride in the scope of extra activities offered to pupils under the umbrella of Geography.

The department attends the inspirational speakers series as part of the RSGS which challenges the pupils to think about issues in different ways.

Additional Support

The Department offers extra sessions every Tuesday and Thursday evening allowing pupils to complete missed work, catch up on reading, revise for exams or seek help with prep.

Trips

On top of the UK based fieldtrips, the Department is involved in international trips that are not part of the academic curriculum. In recent years, these have included trips to Morocco, Costa Rica and Montserrat. The Department also makes regular trips to the local area to attend academic lectures and tours.

Head of Department - Mr Thomas Mason Bsc, Loughborough, PGDE

Mr Steve Smith, MA, PGDE
Mr Richard Myers, BEd, BA
Mrs Meredith Myers

“The world is full of opinion. What we need is for people to go out and find the facts.” In many ways that is exactly what we strive to achieve in the Glenalmond Geography Department. Fieldwork and pupil sourced factual data is paramount to everything that we do, fuelling enquiry and a lifelong love of the subject. Learning here is not a passive passing of information from teacher to learner. Pupils are encouraged to question, probe, analyse, review and finally form their own opinions based on the facts that they have sourced first hand." Kevin MacDonald, Film Director and Old Glenalmond

Junior Curriculum

Second Form

The Second Form syllabus provides a strong foundation in all aspects of Geography and its principal goal is to develop a high level of enjoyment in the subject.

Second Form Topics: Map skills, Rivers, Walking the Nile and the weather.

Third Form

The syllabus is designed to challenge and to stimulate intellectual engagement by introducing big concepts and ideas to the Third Form pupils. Technical field skills and geographical communication are also focused upon in order to have a broad skill base before entry into the GCSE course.

Third Form Topics: Globalisation, Glaciation, Global issues, and the Geography of disaster.

GCSE Curriculum

Geography is concerned with the interplay between the natural systems that govern the planet and the human race. Its scope is necessarily vast and, in being so, it is a subject rich in colour, diversity, range and content. For GCSE Geography we follow the new AQA Specification A. This is the best of the new specifications to provide a foundation for both the world we live in and the new A Level studied over two years in Sixth Form. The course consists of three units:

UNIT 1: Living with the Physical Environment (1.5 hr exam) 35% of GCSE grade

The Challenge of Natural Hazards

Natural hazards
Tectonic hazards
Weather hazards
Climate change

The Living World

Ecosystems
Tropical rainforests
Desert environments
Cold environments

Physical Landscapes in the UK

Coastal landscapes
River landscapes
Glacial landscapes

UNIT 2: Challenges in the Human Environment (1.5 hr exam) 35% of GCSE grade

Urban Issues and Challenges

Urban growth
Urban change in the UK
Urban sustainability

The Changing Economic World

Global variations in economic development
Factors affecting global inequality
Development projects

The Challenge of Resource Management

Food
Water
Energy

UNIT 3: Geographical Applications (1hr 15 min exam) 30% of GCSE grade

Questions based upon pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before unit 3 exam

The GCSE Geography course is suitable for anybody with an analytical interest in the world around them. Pupils should feel comfortable communicating their understanding in writing and using an evidence-based approach to argument and discussion.

Sixth Form Curriculum - A Level

A Level Course Description

Component 1: Physical Geography – Assessed by a 2.5 hr exam (40% of A Level grade)

Topics:

Water and Carbon Cycles
Hot Deserts and their margins
Hazards

Component 2: Human Geography – Assessed by a 2.5 hr exam (40% of A Level grade)

Topics:

Global systems and global governance
Changing Places
Population and the environment

Component 3: Geographical investigation – Individual investigation marked by teacher (20% of A Level grade)

A 3000-4000 word individual investigation based upon data gathered during 4 days of fieldwork.

Please note, as this involves a residential trip working with the Field Studies Council, there will be an additional cost involved for A Level Geography pupils (~£250).

Assessment Methods and Recommended Entry Requirements

All of the components are examined through written examination, often in the form of discursive essays and extended structured responses. Also, a significant component of the approach is analytical in format and requires strength in numeracy and analysis. As such, confidence in both extended written communication and the quantitative scientific approach is needed to meet with a high level of success. GCSE Geography at minimum grade 5 is encouraged, though not essential.

Subject Combinations, Careers and Higher Education

Many of our pupils ally Geography with the sciences and mathematics, offering a linked discipline that allows pupils to demonstrate breadth of communication skills and application of theory. Likewise, Geography can also be used to form a core of specialism in the humanities along with History and Politics. Continuation of the subject at university level is very high both in Geography undergraduate courses and in related disciplines, including: geology, geophysics, chemistry, environmental science, anthropology, sociology, chemistry, languages and history. It is also appropriate for entry into more vocational undergraduate courses, such as law, surveying and engineering.

Careers in geographical studies and earth sciences are varied and represent a huge growth area of industry. Recent graduates have pursued a wide range of professional positions, including: GIS specialist; hydrocarbon geologist; environmental consultants; energy consultants, travel and logistics managers; scientific and social science researchers.

Sixth Form Curriculum - Higher

Purpose of the course

Geography opens up for learners the physical and human environment around them and the ways in which people interact with the environment. The purpose of this course is to develop the learner’s understanding of our changing world and its human and physical processes. Opportunities for practical activities, including fieldwork, will be encouraged, so that learners can interact with their environment. The course is taught as a one year course to supplement A-Levels in other subjects.

SQA Higher assessment structure

The SQA Higher Geography is assessed by two terminal examinations and an invetigation. Paper 1 focuses and the Human and Physical Environments, Paper 2 analyses global issues and Paper 3 is a small investigation

Breakdown of the course

Physical Environments: Atmosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere and Hydrosphere

Human Environments: Urban, Rural and Population

Global Issues: River basin management and Development and Health

Geographical Assignment: Field work project based on data gathered on the Isle of Arran