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Academic Geography
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GEOGRAPHY

Geography is about understanding the world. It illuminates the past, explains the present and prepares us for the future.

– Michael Palin

Without Geography
you are nowhere!

ETHOS AND AIMS

The Geography department provides students with a unique opportunity to explore the human, physical and environmental interactions of our planet.

Geography is a dynamic discipline which seeks to explain physical landforms and phenomena along with giving us a clearer insight into how human activities are shaping the characteristics of our world.  The course offers an exciting variety of content and also encourages students to develop a wide and valuable skills base.  By studying Geography at Hurtwood, students will be engaged and informed about topical issues, as well as developing their capacity to understand our complex world.  They will be challenged to discuss, debate and think geographically about the people and places of the 21st Century.

CURRICULUM

 

The department follows the OCR A level course. In the first year, we study both human and physical geography through the topical and influential themes of Disease Dilemmas, Coastal Landscapes, and Changing Spaces; Making Places. Throughout, students will consider their own values and attitudes and support their learning through examining real case studies. Within and beyond the classroom, students will also develop a variety of geographical skills, which will equip them with practical and transferable life skills. In the second year, we explore three key themes: Global Systems and Global Governance, Earth’s Life Support Systems, and our Hazardous Earth. Within these themes we consider global challenges and explore the ‘big’ questions concerning the future and sustainability of our planet. The course is examined through a variety of short answer, essay and enquiry-based written examination papers.

 

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EXTRA CURRICULAR

Geography is the 'window on the world’ and as such it requires us to look out of the window. 

An important element of the course is therefore our commitment to fieldwork and exploring real scenarios beyond the classroom.  To support students’ geographical understanding and develop their examinable fieldwork skills, they will work as a team on various field activities.  Their geographical experience should bring their classroom textbooks and work files to life.  Day visits and local enquiries support learning and allow students to collect data in order to complete a personal fieldwork investigation worth 20% of the A Level award.  The department is a member of both the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Association and attends lectures and events to enrich students’ learning.

 

View our exam results Course Specification Suggested reading list