A Level Geography

Who is this course for?

People who choose geography will gain a deeper understanding of how the world works and how

the people interact. Geography is a great choice of subject to study at a time of growing concern

about climate change, migration shrinking resources and global poverty. Geographers are highly

regarded by universities and employers as having a wealth of skills and knowledge and it will

open your mind to endless career possibilities that you may not have even considered. If you

have enjoyed geography in the past you will love it at Wyke!

The Geography Department at Wyke Sixth Form College

Each student will receive their own textbook and have access to online resources to support their

studies during the two years. They will also have access to a library of geography books,

fieldwork equipment, geography magazines, geofiles and weekly workshops. Each student will

receive personal guidance and study materials to ensure that they reach their potential. In 2017

the departments fieldwork was recognised in the publication of an article in ‘Teaching Geography’

which was widely praised.

The Geography Department consists of two enthusiastic teachers:

Kerry Spamer: Head of Subject and Teacher of A Level Geography

Cyril Clark: Teacher of A Level Geography

Exam Board

The department study the AQA Geography specification .

Course Details

Component 1 – Physical Geography

This will be examined in a 2 hours and 30 minute exam and will comprise 40% of the A Level.

Water and carbon cycles

Coastal systems and landscapes

Hazards

Component 2 – Human Geography

This will be examined in a 2 hours and 30 minute exam and will comprise 40% of the A Level.

Global Systems and global governance

Changing places

Population and the environment

Component 3 – Geographical Investigation

Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The

individual investigation will be based on a question defined and developed relating to part of the

specification content. The student will produce a 3,000 - 4,000 word report which will comprise

20% of their A Level mark.

How the course is delivered

Students will attend four 70 minute geography lessons per week and will complete a minimum of

four days of field study in total.

Departmental Enrichment

Lunchtime workshops are provided to allow students to brush up on their skills and techniques

and one to one support is offered if needed. As well as this the department offer lots of additional

help outside of lessons if needed.

The Geography Department believe that fieldwork is a vital part of geography; students will have

the opportunity to take part in a number of field trips to complete their studies. In the past these

have included a day of data collection at Helwath Beck in the Yorkshire Moors and residential

field trips to Iceland, Naples and Sicily.

In addition to this the department runs a geography newspaper enrichment class two lunchtimes

a week.

Student success

The geography results are consistently above the national and college average. 100% of A2

students have passed the course in the last 5 years. 36% of AS geography students and 62% of

A2 geography students gained A*-B in the 2016 exams. 7 A* and 16 grade A at Advanced level

helped make 2017 another successful year for the department

“Choosing to studying geography at Wyke was the best academic decision I made going into A

levels. I gained a breadth of knowledge, understanding and skill from geography that could not be

replicated in any other subject. My teachers inspired me to read beyond my lessons, to gain

deeper understanding, and to question and critically analyse further research. Geography at

Wyke has set me up to move on to my undergraduate study at university and to become a very

employable graduate.” Charlotte Hamer, studying Geography at Leeds gained an A at Wyke in

2015.

What does this course lead to?

Many geographers are attracted to the diverse and specialist areas of study that Geography

offers at university, most students choose to go on to higher education. Geography can lead to a

wide range of careers such as local government, landscape architecture, engineering,

cartography, nature conservation, social work, housing management and market research or

even some more challenging professions such as civil service, sports management,

meteorology, volcanologist, lecturer or systems analyst. Geographers are equipped with a

wealth of knowledge and skills that are attractive to employers, the career opportunities are

endless.

“A student who studies geography has well above average graduate employability, second only

to law, psychology and sports science” Oxford University