Geography

Geography

Our Subject

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An introduction to Geography
A Level Geography FAQs

The world we live in is changing: Geography allows you to see why and how. Studying Geography can enhance your communication, literacy, numeracy and IT skills; your sense of spatial and environmental awareness; your ability to solve problems and work as part of a team. We follow the Edexcel Geography A-level specification. In addition to the below specific entry requirements for Geography, it’s also crucial that you have a curiosity about the world’s places, peoples, processes and environments. You should enjoy asking questions and finding answers; be interested in local, regional and global issues, and have the ability to think independently. Above all, you must be prepared to leave the classroom and see for yourself what is going on as geography is out there!

To study Geography at Bilborough, you need a minimum grade 5 or above in Maths and 5 in English GCSE, and grade 4 if studied at GCSE.

Our links with HE

If ever you need help in deciding which steps to take next, our Geography teachers are always here to help with valuable support and advice. We provide students with lots of opportunities to attend extra talks and events with local universities including through the Nottingham Geographical Association Branch and our annual Geography@University event which sees many top universities geography departments running workshops with students in college. Geography provides a sound basis for further academic study in a wide range of subjects due to the wide range of transferable skills you will develop. This has led to Geography Graduates being amongst the very most employable graduates in the UK in recent years. Universities and future employers highly value many of the transferable skills you will build and develop during the course including communication, team work, data analysis and evaluation. Further study of Geography at university is a popular option with many of our students who develop a real passion for the subject whilst at Bilborough.


Course Structure

All students study a two year A-level course. In your first year you will study a mixture of human and physical geography along with a programme of skills development and fieldwork. The physical unit ‘Dynamic Landscapes’ includes the ever popular Tectonic Processes and Hazards topic as well as Coastal Landscapes and Change. In the human unit ‘Dynamic Places’ you will study key topical issues including Globalisation and Regenerating Places at both local and global scales. The content is brought to life through the use of technology including developing key employability skills such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Analysis, evaluative writing, data analysis and presentation. Fieldwork is an integral part of the course and as well as local skills development there will be a residential field trip to the excellent FSC Preston Montford specialist field centre in Shropshire. The fieldtrip allows for the hands-on exploration of concepts studied in lessons and also the chance to develop skills and collect data for the crucial 20% coursework Independent Investigation component.

In the second year of the A-level you will explore key issue of global significance, including the processes behind them and possible sustainable solutions. In the physical unit ‘Physical Systems and Sustainability’ you will study the processes behind climate change and water insecurity, the impacts of these challenges as well as evaluating how we can attempt to sustainably address these challenges. In the human unit ‘Human Systems and Geopolitics’ you will study the dynamic development of global superpower nations as well as the topical challenges of migration, national identity and sovereignty along with how these challenges can be managed. Again a wide range of transferrable skills of data analysis, report-writing, evaluative writing and problem solving will be developed alongside the content throughout the year.


Inspiration

We love our subject and work hard to give students as may

Geography combines well with many other subjects in the college and there are many career choices for geographers who are amongst the very most employable graduates in recent years: GIS analyst, town planner, climatologist, conservationist, market researcher, financial services, teacher, surveyor, lawyer, estate manager, cartographer, pollution analyst, hydrologist, human resources manager, geologist, architect, insurance risk analyst, aid worker, estate agent, transport manager, renewable energy consultant, marketing manager, civil engineer, crime analyst and many, many more!

Follow us on Twitter @BilboGeog at www.twitter.com/BilboGeog for regular updates and interesting, topical Geography links! We are also on Instagram @BilboGeog www.instagram.com/bilbogeog/

“The teacher support is fantastic, it’s clear that the geography team are genuinely enthusiastic and passionate about the subject and about teaching it.”

-Student

“I highly recommend doing the Geography A level course to any new student as it is relevant to many university courses so opens many doors in the future after college.”

-Student

“The course is really interesting and is made much more exciting by the organised and involved staff – the best teaching staff in the college!”

-Student

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