Geography
Our Team
Mr P. Sands
Head of Department
Mr P. Toman
Teacher
Miss K. Irvine
Teacher
Our Department
Geography makes an important contribution to Newry High School by helping promote spatial awareness, joined up thinking and critical development and understanding of all pupils in the school. It also offers the pupil with interest and motivation the opportunity to consider the challenges of the modern world through a lens of sustainability. Over the course of its study, Geography opens up a plethora of career opportunities, including further and higher education.
Key Stage 3
Students will study:
- Local to Global Geography, People and Places and Our Raging PlanetYear 9 –
- Rivers and Coasts, Dynamic Demographics and Development and Interdependencies
- Weather and Climate, Earthquakes and Volcanoes and Meeting Future Energy Needs
GCSE
We study the CCEA specification at GCSE with includes:
- Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World
- Unit 2: Living in Our World
- Unit 3: Fieldwork.
Unit 1 has four themes covering physical geography processes and systems. Students evaluate river and coastal management strategies and the processes shaping our weather. They explore extreme weather and the forces that create earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Unit 2 has four themes covering human geography. Students explore the challenges facing refugees, inner city issues, strategies for sustainable development, and the environmental impact of increasing consumption.
In Unit 3, students apply the knowledge, understanding and skills gained Unit 1 or Unit 2 to a fieldwork investigation.
A-Level
We study the CCEA specification at GCE with includes:
- Unit AS 1: Physical Geography
- Unit AS 2: Human Geography
- Unit AS 3: Fieldwork Skills and Techniques in Geography
- Unit A2 1: Physical Processes, Landforms and Management
- Unit A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography
- Unit A2 3: Decision Making in Geography.
At AS level students investigate physical and human geography themes. They explore the processes that shape weather, the relationships between population and resources or how to protect the countryside. They undertake fieldwork and develop their ability to gather, evaluate and present information.
At A2 students explore plate tectonics and dynamic coastal environments. They also investigate ethnic diversity and tourism. They develop decision-making skills and apply these in a real world scenario.
Examiniation Board Information
For more information from the Examination board:
Geography
Specification
Extra-Curriculur
Extra-curricular activities in Geography include:
- Our After-School Geography Club
- An Annual Geography Quiz
- Key Stage 3 international field trip to Iceland / Italy
- Key Stage 3 orienteering trip to Gosford Forest Park
- Key Stage 3 trip to Carlingford Lough to conduct a decision-making study.
- Key Stage 3 trip to Dromore to conduct an ecosystem study
- Key Stage 3 trip to Marble Arch Caves
- Key Stage 4 trip to Belfast and Titanic Quarter to conduct a regeneration study
- Key Stage 4/5 trip to Mourne Mountains for a River Study
- Key Stage 5 trip to Coastal Environments Study to Portrush and the Antrim Coast
- Key Stage 5 trip to Murlough Nature Reserve and Sand Dunes
- Key Stage 5 trip to Newcastle to Study Coastal Engineering
Career Pathways
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 well 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.
