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Geography

Geography is a compulsory subject in the First to Third Years. At this level we aim to give a broad grounding to the subject with a wide variety of topic areas including the local region (in the First Year), ecosystems and development (in the Second Year) and energy and hazards (in the Third Year). Basic geographical skills including mapwork are also covered during these years. From September 2009 we will be following the new OCR A GCSE syllabus which is far more contemporary than previous specifications and will give the pupils more opportunity to develop their own interests through case study work and issue based topics. At present 60%-70% of the year group opt for geography at GCSE and this will hopefully increase with the introduction of the new syllabus. The subject has a consistently good record at A level, where we follow the OCR A syllabus, with between 80 and 90% of all students gaining an A or B grade.

The department has five well-qualified teachers whose blend of youth and experience ensures a modern approach where lessons are both informative and stimulating. The philosophy of the department is that geography is an exciting and highly relevant subject, essential if pupils are to make sense of places, people and the world around them. This involves an active commitment to fieldwork for all year groups. Routine fieldwork is carried out at a range of sites in northern England. From time to time foreign field excursions are undertaken. Recent destinations include the south-west USA, Iceland, the Azores and Morocco.

Click here to see photographs from the field excusion to theUSA, April 2012

Geology

Geology

Geology is available at A level where the OCR syllabus is followed. The AS course gives the students a broad grounding in the subject with two modules on Global Tectonics and the Rock Cycle while at A2 more specialist areas are covered with a further two modules on Environmental Geology and the Evolution of Life. The subject has an excellent record with over 90% of its students gaining an A or B grade at AS and A2.

Geology is mainly delivered by one specialist although other members of the geography department do contribute to the teaching. Practical work and fieldwork are seen as being essential to the subject and there is extensive use of mineral, rock and fossil specimens within the classroom. Fieldwork is carried out on a regular basis using in sites in the local area, the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Yorkshire Coast, Durham, Derbyshire and Shropshire.