KEY STAGE 5 - SIXTH FORM AS AND A2.

The OCR syllabus is followed (AS - H083, A2-H483). The AS course is taught in Year12 and the A2 course starts after the AS exams at the end of Year12 and continues in Year 13. AS and A2 are each worth 50% of the final A level grade which can be awarded at the end of Year 13. This geography course is demanding, intellectually stimulating and relevant. It enhances students' understanding and appreciation of the complex, dynamic world in which we live, encouraging them to take an interest in local and global issues. There are a variety of assessment techniques, short answers, short essays, longer essays, and geographical investigation techniques.
Summary of Content A Level Content

AS Units
Unit F761: Managing Physical Environments
Coastal environments
Cold environments
Hot arid / semi-arid environments

Unit F762: Managing Change in Human Environments
Managing urban change
Managing rural change
The Growth of tourism

A2 Units
Unit F763: Global Issues

 Environmental issues:
 – Earth hazards (Option A1)
  – Climatic hazards (Option A3)
 Economic issues:
  –Development & Inequalities(Option B3)
Unit F764: Geographical Skills

THIS IS ASSESSED IN AN EXAM NOT SUBMITTED COURSEWORK
You will complete fieldwork throughout the course (Maidstone CBD Study and Studland Sand Dune succession) which will be used to help answer questions in the exam.
 Geographical skills:
 – Identifying a suitable geographical question for investigation
 – Developing a plan and strategy for conducting the investigation
 – Collecting and recording appropriate data
 – Presenting the data collected in appropriate forms
 – Analysing and interpreting the data

Assessment/Examination
AS GCE Geography
AS Unit F761: Managing Physical Environments 
25% of the total A Level. 1.5h written paper
This paper has two sections.
Section A
Candidates are required to answer two questions chosen from four structured data-response questions,
Section B:
Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from four extended-writing questions.
Candidates answer three questions
CURRENTLY THIS MODULE IS TAKEN IN JANUARY

AS Unit F762: Managing Change in Human Environments
25% of the total A Level. 1.5h written paper
This paper has two sections.
Section A
Candidates are required to answer two questions chosen from four structured data-response questions,
Section B:
Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from four extended-writing questions.
Candidates answer three questions
CURRENTLY THIS MODULE IS TAKEN IN JUNE

A2 GCE Geography
A2 Unit F763: Global Issues
Units as above, both units being 30% of the total Advanced GCE marks.
2.5h written paper
This paper has two sections
Section A:
Candidates are required to answer three questions, at least one from three questions on Environmental issues and at least one from three questions on Economic issues
Section B:
Candidates are required to answer two essay-type questions, one from six questions on Environmental issues and one from six questions on Economic issues.

Candidates answer five questions overall
This unit is synoptic

A2 Unit F764: Geographical Skills
20% of the total Advanced GCE marks 1.5h written paper, partly based on candidates’ own investigation/research.
 This paper has two sections.
Section A: Candidates are required to answer one question chosen from three structured data-response questions. These questions are based upon stimulus material, which may include maps (OS and other types), written material, photographs, satellite and other images, diagrams and statistical information; and upon the skills and techniques used during the geographical research that candidates will have undertaken at both AS and A2.
Section B: Candidates are required to answer two extended-writing questions. Questions focus on the skills and the techniques used during the geographical research including analysis, interpretation, evaluation and drawing conclusions.

Candidates answer three questions in total.
This unit is synoptic

The four modules add up to a score out of 300.

The Physical Environment (75 marks)
This is a course in physical geography and it is divided into three sections.
Coasts
All coastal features and processes are studied with reference to the influence of rock type and structures. There is emphasis on coastal management of both lowland and cliffed areas. Many examples are studied but most are drawn from the field trip to Dorset.
(a) A four day residential field trip to Swanage, Dorset staying at the Townsend residential centre in early October. The field work includes Studland sand dunes and National Nature reserve, geological features from Lulworth Cove to Bats Head,formation of  Chesil Beach, geology and sea level change at Portland Bill, coastal protection of Chiswell village, salt marshes and halosere at Arne Nature Reserve, chalk headland at Handfast Point, oil development at Wytch Farm and the formation of Poole Harbour.

Arid & Semi Arid Environments
The climate is examined and the physical processes that contribute to the diverse features of the arid and semi environment. These features have changed over time with climate and arid environments around the world host a variety of different physical features. Although these areas are ecologically fragile they provide opportunities for development; as a consequence human activity can have a high impact and needs to be managed sustainably. 

Cold Environments
The climate is examined and the physical processes that contribute to the diverse features of the cold environment. These features have changed over time with climate and cold environments around the world host a variety of different physical features. Although these areas are ecologically fragile they provide opportunities for development; as a consequence human activity can have a high impact and needs to be managed sustainably. 

This module is taught in the autumn term of Year 12. This exam will be sat in the January of Year 12.

The Human Environment (75marks)
This is a course in human geography and it is divided into three sections.
Managing Urban Change
This course studies the theory behind urban land use in different cities of the world and analysis the change in land use over time. The topic includes a study of urban deprivation in MEDC and LEDC cities and examines the social, economic and environmental consequences of change. Inner City deprivation and change is studied in East London and impacts of rapid urban growth is studied in Mexico City. Students must be aware of the growing development of sustainable management in urban areas.
Managing Rural Change
This course studies the impact of changes to the British countryside and the effect of Government and European policy since the second world war. It considers the effectiveness of areas with protected status such as National Parks and AONBs, the impact of modern agriculture and agricultural policy on the environment, the changing characteristics of villages near to and remote from towns, the impact of second homes, the impact of managed forests and the effectiveness of policy to regenerate rural areas. Students must be aware of the growing development of sustainable management in rural areas. The topic is up to date, relevant and political.
The Growth of Tourism
This course examines how tourism has grown over time and analyses the variety of factors that have contributed to this growth. The course also studies the social, environmental and economic impact of tourism and recreation in a variety of places around the world including Spain, Thailand, the Caribbean, Belize, Costa Rica and Australia. A key concept is to understand the development of sustainable tourism and how it can be implemented sustainably.

This module is taught in the Spring and Summer term of Year 12 after the January Physical Environment Exam. This exam will be sat in the Summer of Year 12.

Year 12 Geography Reviews
Twice during Year 12 each teacher conducts a review with every student individually. The review considers all test and assessment grades, an evaluation of the quality of the students’ file with reference to organisation, presentation, consistency and general standard, and the students’ general attitude and approach. General targets and a target grade are agreed. The review comments are kept at the front of the students’ file.
 
A2
There are two A2 Modules.

Geographical Investigation (60 marks)
This course is concerned with geographical research and skills.  During the AS and A2 course students will develop understanding and knowledge of a variety of geographical skills including:
- The use of modern technologies (such as GIS electronic image and map interpretation)
- Statistical analysis
- Presentational techniques
- Geographical Investigation Stages/Processes

To complement the syllabus fieldwork (organised by the teachers) is carried out in Maidstone CBD and on the Studland Sand Dune System. All students help with the surveys and the results are pooled. Each student will write up the geographical investigation with teacher guidance and the skills developed during this process will be examined in the Geographical Investigation Exam in January of Year 13.

• This module is taught primarily in the summer term after year 12 exams and in the Autumn term of Year 13, although many skills are developed throughout the Year 12  and 13 course. This exam will be sat in January of Year 13.

Global Issues (90 Marks)

This course is divided into three topics:
Two topics are studied within the area of Environmental Issues:
• Earth hazards (Option A1)
 This is a very up to date course which offers students not only the chance to understand the nature of earth  hazards, but also to study their effects on people and environments and to evaluate the role of monitoring, prediction and risk assessment. Reference is made to earthquakes, volcanoes and mass movement. Recent case studies are examined using TV programmes, news reports and articles. Increased knowledge of natural hazards in a world where people are continuing to colonise environments at risk is an issue of our time.
• Climatic hazards (Option A3)
This is a very up to date course which offers students not only the chance to understand the nature of climatic hazards, but also to study their effects on people and environments and to evaluate the role of monitoring, prediction and risk assessment. Reference is made to hurricanes, tornadoes, anticyclones and depressions and their associated climatic hazards. Recent case studies are examined using TV programmes, news reports and articles. Increased knowledge of natural hazards in a world where people are continuing to colonise environments at risk is an issue of our time.

One topic is studied within the area of Economic Issues:
• Development and inequalities (Option B3)
This course examines how and why economic development and quality of life varies globally. Students are required to understand the concept of the “Development Gap” and how economic development can cause social and environmental issues and how these inequalities can be reduced.

This module is taught in the Spring and Summer Term of Year 13 and the exam is sat in the Summer of Year 13.