Geography
Exam Board: AQA
Course name: A Level Geography
General Information
Geography helps us to understand the world we live in; how people and nature interact and influence how we live our lives. Geographers have a deeper understanding of their place in the world and of the complex connections that link us all together.
Course Outline
Year 12
AS Geography content is divided into two sections – Physical and Human Geography. In core physical, candidates’ subject knowledge and understanding in key environments is developed. The compulsory rivers, floods and management unit relates to environments familiar with most, if not all, candidates and engages them in the study of the central role of water in landscape development and its management for human welfare purposes. The other three contrasting physical environments each present opportunities for studying distinctive sets of processes raising common themes of environmental impact, management, sustainability and citizenship.
In core human, fundamentals of population in human geography are addressed with an emphasis on change and development over space and time and their geographical implications. Optional elements are specified to give candidates the opportunity to engage with key themes of contemporary relevance with an emphasis on human agency and welfare and/ or sustainability aspects.
Unit 2 (Geographical Skills) is specified and examined in such a way as to engage candidates with a range of basic and more sophisticated geographical skills appropriate to the AS specification content.
Year 13
A2 Geography adopts an issues approach consistent with modern conceptions of the subject, its validity and utility. Concepts, themes and skills covered in AS are extended and developed in A2 in different settings with an opportunity and expectation of higher levels of cognitive and empathetic engagement. In Unit 3 (Contemporary geographical issues) each physical option involves study, at a variety of scales, of important and interesting themes and/or environments and engages candidates with notions of challenge for human populations. Each human option similarly engages candidates with important contemporary themes at a range of scales and should resonate with either their direct or media experience.
Units 4A and 4B are specified so as to provide contrasting approaches to extending and developing subject knowledge and understanding, and exercise geographical skills, whilst meeting the same assessment objectives. Unit 4A (Geography Fieldwork Investigation) casts candidates as active researchers with some responsibility for managing and reflecting on their own learning activities in relation to a topic of particular interest and/or for which there are particular study opportunities. In addition, candidates will be assessed on fieldwork skills. Unit 4B (Geographical Issue Evaluation) casts candidates as active researchers and evaluators of information using geographical knowledge and understanding and skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation to form measured views on complex issues which may be of considerable significance locally, regionally or globally.
Careers and Higher Education Opportunities:
Geography is a facilitating subject. The skills are highly valued by the red brick universities. Students with an A level in Geography will go on to degrees like Geography, Town planning, Environmental Sciences and Civil Engineering.
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Students are supported through the course with a wide range of catch-up session and drop in classes where they can discuss classwork in more depth. Students will carry out field work and visit various field work sites during the course.
History
Exam Board: AQA
Course name: A Level History
General Information
History helps us to understand the world we live in. The course offers candidates the opportunity to study history in length and breadth as well as in depth, to develop expertise in various skills general as well as historical and to acquire and demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the periods studied. They give an opportunity to introduce more ‘stretch and challenge’ into A Level History.
Course Outline
Paper 1 – Breadth Study
The Tudors: England 1485 -1603
50 % of the AS
This option comprises a study in breadth, in which students will learn about the key political, social, religious and economic features of Tudor rule in Britain during the fifteenth and sixteenth century, an era of turmoil and political intrigue unrivalled in any other era.
Written Exam, 1 Hour 30 minutes.
Paper 2 – Depth Study
The Transformation of China 1936 – 1997
50% of the AS
This option comprises a study in depth of the transformation of communist China in the years 1949–76. The aftershocks of these changes are still being felt today as China emerges as a great economic and political power on the world stage.
Written exam, 1 hour and 30 minutes
Careers and Higher Education Opportunities:
Historians are taught a wide-ranging combination of skills drawing in ideas from many sources. This ability to view issues from a wider perspective is appropriate for working in many different areas. The nature of peoples’ working lives is changing. It is less likely that someone will spend all their life in one company or organisation-the so-called job for life. If your career path is to be varied you will need to develop transferable skills and you will need to be flexible. History fosters these qualities and provides a firm base for life-long learning.
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Students are supported through the course with a wide range of catch-up session and drop in classes where they can discuss classwork in more depth. Students may get the opportunity to visit local university lectures on one of the units above. This will provide them with an in depth contextual knowledge to reinforce their understanding.
Religious Education
Exam Board: Eduqas
Course name: A Level Religious Studies
General Information
Religious Studies helps us to understand people’s beliefs, attitudes and actions in an increasing connected world. Religious Studies allows deep thinking, reflection and discussion of fundamental questions which helps us to make sense of our lives.
Course Outline
Year 12
Component 1: An Introduction to the Study of Religion – Islam
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Component 2: An Introduction to Philosophy of Religion
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Component 3: An Introduction to Religion and Ethics
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Year 13
Component 1: A Study of Religion- Islam
Written examination: 2 hours
Component 2: Philosophy of Religion
Written examination: 2 hours
Component 3: Religion and Ethics
Written examination: 2 hours
Careers and Higher Education Opportunities
A study of Religious Studies complements other popular A Levels including Philosophy, Law, History, Sociology and English Literature. It is less likely that someone will spend all their life in one company or organisation-the so-called job for life. If your career path is to be varied you will need to develop transferable skills and you will need to be flexible. RE fosters these qualities and provides a firm base for life-long learning. Students will often go on to do degrees in a vast number of areas including Religious Studies, Journalism and English.
Extra-curricular enrichment opportunities
Students are supported through the course with a wide range of catch-up session and drop in classes where they can discuss classwork in more depth. Students may get the opportunity to visit local universities and will receive lectures from guest speakers from time to time.