Options – Geography

Choosing Geography is as easy as A, B, C…

A is for Academic

The 20 top universities in the country have idenitified Geography as one of only 10 ‘facilitating’ subjects. These are the subjects universities look for when they’re deciding who to offer places to.

B is for Baccalaureate

A new certificate has been introduced for students who achieve good passes (C or above) in a number of key subject areas, including Geography.

C is for Choice

Geography makes you competent in a wide range of key skills. As a result Geography keeps your options open. The subject leads on a wide range of humanities and science courses at college and university and has strong links to a wide, and growing, range of jobs.  

Read on for more information…. 

Why study Geography?

Geography teaches you about the earth’s places, peoples, environments and societies. It helps you to understand the relationships between people and the environment. It is unique in bridging the social sciences (Human Geography) and the earth sciences (Physical Geography). Geography puts this understanding of social and physical processes within the essential context of places and regions. 

Not only is Geography a well-respected academic subject, but it is also at the centre of many of the major issues affecting the world today. How are we going to feed the world’s rapidly expanding population? What are our industries doing to the environment? What is happening to the overcrowded mega-cities of the world? What are we dumping in the world’s oceans? How will we ensure enough clean water for our future? How does tourism affect the places people visit? How can people respond to natural hazards such as flooding, earthquakes and hurricanes?

Why choose Geography at GCSE?

The world in which we live is likely to change more in the next 50 years than it has ever done before. Our role in that change is more important than ever. Geography explains the changes and helps to prepare people. It is a subject about now and the future. 

Geography gives a balanced viewpoint which is good preparation for the world of work. Employers want people with the following attributes:

• Good communication skills      
• Ability to manage themselves
• Ability to work as a team         
• Numeracy and literacy
• Ability to solve problems          
• Computer literacy
• Spatial awareness                   
• Environmental and social awareness

GEOGRAPHY PROVIDES THEM ALL!

Geographers can…	Geographers are…
Make a concise report	Good communicators
Handle data	Spatially aware
Ask questions and find answers	Problem solvers
Make decisions about an issue	Good team players
Analyse material	Computer literate
Organise themselves	Well rounded, flexible thinkers
Think creatively and independently	Socially, economically and ebvironmentally aware

You may be planning to go to university or the world of work, whichever option you choose, the study of Geography will equip you with invaluable skills for the future. A Geography qualification is extremely useful for a very wide range of careers and further courses of study. Careers like geology, meteorology, cartography, travel and tourism and environmental management all benefit greatly from a Geography qualification. A further range of careers such as marketing, social services, and financial management also see Geography as a subject which encourages and develops the kinds of skills they require. Nationally, geography has one of the best graduate employment records in the country. 

At Penwortham Girls we teach Edexcel’s specification A. This course includes a mixture of physical, human and environmental topics. In Year 10 students study river landforms, waste management and energy production; whilst population, global warming and sustainability are studied in Year 11. In addition to content, the course has a strong skills focus. Students completing the course should be able to read, understand and draw both traditional and ICT maps, as well as having the skills to interpret and analyse graphs, statistics and photographs.

Assessment is modular with three external examinations during the course – June Year 10, January Year 11 and June Year 11. In addition, students will need to complete a fieldwork investigation (physcial geography based).

You should choose Geography if…

• you have an interest in the environment;
• you keep up to date with current affairs;
• you have enjoyed Geography in lower school;
• you are prepared to work hard, both in class and at home;
• you like producing project and display work;
• you have achieved at least a 5a by the end of Year 9.   

GCSE Teachers: Mr G Bowles (Head of Department), Mr B Ward & Mrs R Singleton.

Still not sure? Click on the links below to watch a couple of YouTube movies which put forward the case for Geography.