Geography Gallery

INTRODUCTION

The Department is vibrant and successful. We attract large numbers of pupils to this optional subject for GCSE and Advanced Level courses. All pupils in Years 7 ­ 9 study Geography and then decide whether or not to continue.

STAFFING

The Department is run by Mr Barclay with the assistance of Mrs Clifford, Mr Robinson and Mr Stobbs. Mr Barclay is currently a Senior Examiner for AQA at AS and A2 levels.

ACCOMMODATION

With two dedicated teaching rooms, each well equipped with OHPs, computers printers, TV sets, VHS and DVD players as well as stocks of appropriate textbooks, we are currently installing white boards and projectors which should add a valuable modern dimension to our teaching.

CURRICULUM

Geography in the Week
In Years 7 to 9 the subject is studied for 2 lessons per week each of which lasts 50 minutes. In Years 10 and 11 this increases to 3 lessons per week for the GCSE course. In the Lower Sixth there are 5 lessons per week increasing to 6 in the Upper Sixth.

Outside the Classroom:
Fieldwork on site in the local area and further away is an integral part of the subject. In the Juniors such activities are undertaken on the School Site e.g. measuring pupil flows and investigating microclimatic variations. At GCSE we undertake a series of studies in the nearby town centre of Altrincham. At 'A' level each candidate submits an original and individual study on a topic of their choosing. Recent studies have included 'Delamere as a honey pot site', 'settlement patterns of North Cheshire', 'shopping hierarchy in Altrincham', beach studies on Anglesey' and a host of other investigations. Recent group visits have been to study Lymm as an example of a commuter village, the Fiddler's Ferry Power Station, the Blue John Caverns in Derbyshire and the industrial estate at Broadheath.

EXAMINATIONS

GCSE
At GCSE level we offer the full AQA specification 'B'; course in which we study the geography of the UK, specific European case studies and selected topics from the 'Wider World' including issues like Global Warming. In Year 10 and 11, 75-80% of each year group have chosen to study this optional subject.

A Level
At AS and A2 level we follow AQA specification 'A' these courses consider a range of topics in depth, including climatic hazards, modern urban growth, volcanic and earthquake activity. Again the subject is very popular with over 40 pupils entered for the January 2006 module series. In the summer of 2005, 34 pupils earned pass grades at AS and A2 levels. www.aqa.org.uk will provide course content details

Thus the Department seeks to teach our pupils about Man and his interaction with our environment in an interesting, involving and worthwhile manner, to attract students to the subject and to help them to be successful in external examinations.