In this course, students are prepared for AQA GCSE Geography (8035). The following seven units are studied sequentially across Years 10 and 11.
| Unit | Content |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 Weather hazards and climate change | Students learn about global atmospheric systems and how they create hazards in the form of tropical storms and extreme weather events in the UK. Through in-depth case studies, students explore Typhoon Haiyan and the Somerset Levels flooding. Students build on their KS3 learning by considering a range of sources of evidence for climate change and by undertaking thorough evaluation of a range of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 2 Ecosystems and tropical rainforests | Students examine ecosystems of all sizes, from the local to the global. In the tropical rainforests component of this unit, students revisit and build on Year 9 learning by studying characteristics of rainforests in Malaysia and how they are threatened by deforestation. The value of rainforests is considered before evaluating a range of sustainable management strategies at both national and international level. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 3 | Students study the characteristics of polar and tundra enviornments before examining the case study of Svalbard. The opportunities and challenges of living in cold environments are covered through this case study and students evaluate how fragile environments can be managed sustainably with a range of examples including Antarctica. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 4 | Students build on Year 8 learning by studying coasts at GCSE level. The unit is divided in two, addressing both physical and human aspects of coast geography. The physical geographical component consists of coastal processes and the landforms they create, while the human geographical component examines coastal management through sea defences, using examples of both hard and soft engineering. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 5 Rivers | Students build on Year 7 learning by deepening their understanding of rivers. As in the previous unit, this unit has two components, covering both physical and human aspects of rivers. The physical geographical component consists of coastal processes and the landforms they create, while the human geographical component examines river management through flood defences, using examples of both hard and soft engineering. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 6 Urbanisation | The first enitrely human unit of the GCSE revisits learning from Year 8 by exploring the process of urbanisation. Contrasts in LIC / HIC urbanisation are studied before examining two major case studies in detail: Rio de Janeiro and Bristol. While our focus is on these two cities, we also encourage students to consider urban geography from their own areas and experiences. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
| Unit 7 Resource management | The unit begins with an overview of food, water and energy resources, especially in a UK context. This is followed by an in-depth study of water resources around the world including global patterns of water consumption, the impacts of water insecurity and how water can be managed, locally and on a larger scale. Key knowledge developed:
Key skills developed:
Assessment: Learning is assessed formatively through in-class practice of exam questions, and summatively in an end-of-unit test and through mock exams across Years 10 and 11. |
