Chelmsford County High School for Girls
A foundation grammar school and specialist college
Subjects
Geography - GCSE
We follow the OCR syllabus for GCSE Geography (Syllabus A 1986) which falls under four broad headings:
- People and the Physical World (covering tectonic plates, rivers and coasts)
- People and Places to Live (covering population and settlement)
- People and Their Needs (covering quality of life, economic activities and energy)
- People and the Environment (covering local environments and the global environment)
Our approach is by topics which cut across the headings above. There is no specific regional content in the syllabus, but we relate the topics to particular regions, as it is important for students to have a sense of place if they are to understand the topics fully.
To illustrate these points, here are a few examples of what the course looks at:
Population - Why do countries such as Bangladesh suffer intense population pressure? What are, and what will be, the consequences of China's one child per family policy? Why do people migrate? Can the world support an ever growing population?
Earth Forces - Where and when is a volcano likely to erupt? Why do people continue to live in earthquake zones? Are even the world's richest countries such as Japan and the USA powerless against earth forces?
Energy - What effects have widespread coal mine closures had on mining areas in the UK? Should we continue to expand nuclear power? Is the government really committed to developing renewable energy? How can we use energy more efficiently?
Coasts - What factors and processes shape coastlines? Can coastal erosion be controlled? What effects do coastal defences have? How can marine pollution affect and be affected by coastal areas?
Students will be assessed on the basis of:
- a) written papers at the end of the course (carrying 75% of the total marks). The first paper lasts 2 hours, tests mainly knowledge and understanding, and is worth 50% of the marks; the second lasts 1 hour, tests mainly skills and is worth 25%. Tiered papers are available and we expect that all our candidates will take the Higher Tier papers, allowing grades A* to D to be achieved.
- b) course work units (worth 25% of the total marks). Our unit will be based on fieldwork as specified in the syllabus.
Lots of online resources are made available to CCHS students on the school Intranet.
Geography is by nature a dynamic subject. Studies are adapted and modified from year to year to take account of current developments, and students are asked to compile their own personal collection of news cuttings etc. relating to relevant geographical events.
Fieldwork is used whenever possible to provide the focus for learning how to observe, measure and record accurately. The residential field course provides the basis for coursework required for examination and is also the ideal setting in which to develop teamwork and leadership skills.
By the end of the course, we hope that students will have achieved the following, regardless of whether they intend to study Geography any further:
- Some knowledge of the world, where places are and what they are like.
- An understanding of processes and patterns in both physical and human geography.
- An awareness of and interest in current issues and conflicting viewpoints.
- An understanding of the importance of place and of other aspects of geography in the development of countries and in their present day characteristics and cultures.
- Knowledge and understanding of connections and interdependence in the modern world.
- Development of a variety of skills including map reading and interpretation, computer literacy and the use of Geographic Information Systems, data analysis and interpretation, and presentation of evidence in oral, written and graphical form.