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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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