Key Stage 4 GCSE

Geography is about the world that you live in. It is the study of both the natural and human environment and, importantly nowadays, the relationship and impact between the two. It is a good subject because you will be able to relate to all the topics that are studied, many of which deal with very important issues for both our country and the world. For example, “Should we use more nuclear power or use renewables?”, “Is international aid always a benefit?”, “Should we stop coastal management in some areas of the UK?” “Why are climatic hazards on the increase?”, “How can we reduce the impacts of hazards in poor areas?”, “Can the world support its growing population?”, “Does Europe need increased immigration?”, “Is global warming really a problem?”, “How can we develop economically without destroying the environment?” There are not always easy answers, but never has there been a more important time to understand the consequences of human activity on our natural and social world.

The Geography GCSE course reflects a combination of modern highly relevant geographical issues such as uneven economic development, sustainability and globalisation along with some of the more traditional topic areas within human and physical geography. This course is challenging and enables students to appreciate the importance of geography for understanding the world around them, drawing on up to date and relevant case studies.

This is a two year course following the OCR syllabus B specification. It is examined in three modules using two written exams and coursework

There are four key themes covered during the course are:
1: Rivers and Coasts - 2: Population and Settlement –
3. Natural Hazards – 4. Economic Development.

These themes will be examined in three units:

1. Key Geographical Themes Exam 50% – Exam questions based on the four key themes outlined above.

2. Sustainable Decision Making Exercise (SDME) 25% - The concept of sustainable development, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is a global issue. The SDME examines the understanding of sustainable development and consideration of alternative ways of resolving development issues.
Examples include:
River and coastal management strategies
Population management strategies
Hazard planning, protection and prediction methods
Managing economic development and environmental conflict

3. Geographical enquiries 25% – There are two tasks and both are completed in class.
1) Fieldwork Focus
Your class will be given a geographical question to investigate. This will include a field trip to collect primary data at the coastal location of Fairlight and Pett Level.
2) Geographical investigation
This is based on secondary data and candidates produce a final piece of work on one of the following topics; disease, trade, ecosystems, sport, fashion, energy, new technologies, crime or tourism.

Geography is a useful subject because it acts as both a Science and Art, and is widely accepted by Universities for most courses. It also recently scored very highly on a survey of British businesses, as a subject, which prepares students for the ‘World of Work!’

If you are interested in landscapes, the environment, countries, travel and social and economic issues then geography is a subject for you. It will broaden your interest in the world around you.

Geography has been both a very popular and highly successful subject at Cranbrook School for many years.