Newry High School

Teaching Staff

Mr P Sands - Head of Department
Mr P Toman
Mr C McKee

The Geography Department at Newry High School is also the proud possessor of a Seismometer, being the only school in the surrounding area to house such exciting equipment. It is used, studied and operated regularly by staff and senior pupils.

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

Key Stage 3 content includes:

Term

Year 8

Year 9

Year 10

1

From Local to Global

Develop Geographical Skills

Interpret spatial patterns including atlas and map-work skills
Sense of place through: range of local, national, European and global contexts

To develop an understanding of:

The ways in which places are interdependent

KE - Employability
KE - Personal Understanding
KE - Citizenship

Changing Landscapes

Develop Geographical Skills

Critical and creative thinking skills to solve geographical problems and make informed decisions
Enquiry and fieldwork skills

To develop an understanding of:

Physical processes of landscape development
The interrelationship between physical and human environments

KE - ESD (all 3 sections)
KE - Media Awareness

Raging Planet 2

Develop Geographical Skills

Develop enquiry and fieldwork skills
Develop sense of place through the issues of topical significance / physical and human environments

To develop an understanding of:

The interrelationships between physical and human environments
They dynamic nature of physical and human environments

KE - Employability
KE - Media Awareness

2

People and Places

Develop Geographical Skills

Sense of place through issues of local significance
Fieldwork and Enquiry skills

To develop an understanding of:

The dynamic nature of physical and human environments
The need for social, economic and environmental change to be sustainable

KE - Economic Awareness
KE - Personal Health
KE - Moral Character

Dynamic Demographics

Develop Geographical Skills

Develop sense of place though issues of topical significance at a range of scales

To develop an understanding of:

The interrelationships between physical and human environments
The need for social, economic and environmental change to be sustainable

KE - ESD
KE - Mutual Understanding
KE - Cultural Understanding

Fragile Earth

Develop Geographical Skills

Sense of place through contrasting physical and human environments
Critical and creative thinking skills to solve geographical problems and make informed decisions

To develop an understanding of:

The dynamic nature of physical and human environments
The need for economic and environmental change to be sustainable

KE - ESD
KE - Spiritual Awareness

3

Raging Planet

Develop Geographical Skills

Sense of place through contrasting physical and human environments
Critical and creative thinking skills to solve geographical problems and make informed decisions

To develop an understanding of:

Physical processes of landscape development
The dynamic nature of human and physical environments

KE - Media Awareness
KE - Economic Awareness
KE - Spiritual Awareness

Meeting Future Energy Demands

Develop Geographical Skills

Enquiry skills
Develop sense of place through the study of issues of topical signaficance

To develop an understanding of:

The ways in which places are interdependent
The need for social, economic and environmental change to be sustainable

KE - ESD
KE - Ethnical Awareness
KE - Citizenship

Development and Interdependence

Develop Geographical Skills

Enquiry skills
Issues of topical significance

To develop an understanding of:

The ways in which places are interdependent
The need for social, economic and environmental change to be sustainable
The interrelationships between human and physical environments

KE - ESD
KE - Personal Health
KE - Citizenship and Economic Awareness

GCSE

There are 2 units:

Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World
This unit is made up for three sections:

Section A: The Dynamic Landscape
Section B: Our Changing Weather and Climate
Section C: The Restless Earth

External written exam 1 hour 30 mins worth 37.5% and is available every summer.

Unit 2: Living in Our World
This unit is made up for three sections:

Section A: People and Where They Live
Section B: Contrasts in World Development
Section C: Managing our Resources

External written exam 1 hour 30 mins worth 37.5% and is available every summer.

Controlled Assessment
Fieldwork Report: The student must complete a report of no more that 2000 words based on primary data collection. This is worth 25% of their total GCSE grade.

A Level

AS / A-Level content includes:

What do I need to know or be able to do before taking this course?

Several topics covered in the course are developments of work covered by GCSE, but others are new. It is important that you have a lively and enquiring mind, an interest in the environment and current affairs, a willingness to explore new ideas and an ability to communicate your ideas effectively.

Grade C or above at GCSE Geography is necessary to commence your study at AS Level. You will find the material and skills you have acquired at GCSE will provide a valuable foundation for further studies at A level.

What will I learn on this Advanced GCE course?

What are the forces influencing our natural environment - the landscapes, the plants and animals, and the weather and climate?
What are the issues affecting people and the places where they live? How are cities and the countryside changing? Why are they changing?
How are people affecting the environment we all live in? What are the opportunities, the challenges and the constraints?
What are the economic forces that drive the world economy, and how are they challenging?
What decisions are being made about the use and management of resources, and who makes these decisions?
An appreciation of current events and world problems such as the effects of natural hazards and the plight of refugees.
How to plan a fieldwork investigation - the collection of primary and secondary evidence and how to analyse it.
You will develop the ability to make links and connections across a wide variety of topics.

What kind of student is the course suitable for?

This course will appeal to those students who:

have an interest in and concern for the environment
are interested in current affairs
enjoy studying a subject relevant to their own lives and experiences
want the opportunity to carry out practical work outdoors as well as in the classroom
enjoy finding out their own answers - not just being taught
want to broaden their AS or Advanced GCE studies to cover both 'sciences' and 'humanities'
enjoy travel and finding out about new people, places, landscapes and events
want to keep their options open - Geography AS or Advanced GCE is an appropriate qualification for a wide range of higher education or careers choices. It does not force you to make an early commitment and is extremely valuable with it’s focus on sustainability.

What could I go on to do at the end of my course?

Students with AS or Advanced GCE Geography have access to a wide range of possible career and higher education opportunities. You learn and use a variety of transferable skills throughout the course. These include collecting, analysing and interpreting data, communicating your findings in different ways, and identifying and developing the links between different parts of the subject. These skills are in great demand and are recognised by employers and universities and colleges as being of great value.

Geography combines well with almost all other AS and Advanced GCE subjects. Taken with sciences like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. Geography supports applications for almost any science based university course like engineering, psychology, environmental sciences, oceanography or geology; taken with humanities like English, French, History or Economics, Geography supports an equally wide range of university courses such as business, law, media, politics and philosophy. Applied 'A' Levels with strong links to Geography include Travel and Tourism and Leisure and Recreation, while Business and IT also combine will with this AS or Advanced GCE in Geography.

Many students choose to use their qualifications to go straight into employment, rather than go on to higher education. Because AS and Advanced GCE Geography develop the transferable skills and the Key Skills that employers are looking for, they can lead to a wide range of employment opportunities. The qualification can also lead to further training in such areas as the law, accountancy and journalism.

Below is a summary of the brand new CCEA specification (which we started teaching in September 2008).

Unit	Assessment Format	Duration	Weightings	Availability
AS 1: Physical Geography (including fieldwork skills)	External examination paper (to include an assessment of fieldwork)	1 hour 30 minutes	50% of AS 25% of A Level	January and Summer
AS 2: Human Geography (including skills and techniques)	External examination paper (to include an assessment of skills and techniques)	1 hour 30 minutes	50% of AS 25% of A Level	January and Summer
A2 1: Human Geography and Global Issues	External examination paper	1 hour 30 minutes	25% of A Level	January and Summer
A2 2: Physical Geography and Decision-Making	External examination paper (to include a decision-making exercise)	2 hours 30 minutes	25% of A Level	Summer only

Extra Curricular

Trips

Field Trips Include:

Murlough Nature Reserve and Sand Dunes
Marble Arch Caves
Newcastle - Coastal Engineering
Mourne Mountain River Study
Mourne Mountain Ecosystem Study
Geology Study to the Mourne Mountains
Coastal Environments Study to Portrush