Geography
Staff
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Ms Edel McGill (Head of Department)
Ms Anne-Marie Heathwood
Ms Roisin Martin
Ms Maura McArdle
Ms Stephanie O’Brien
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 all students follow a course in Geography based on the revised Northern Ireland Curriculum. We use a variety of child centred teaching methods such as power point presentations, debates, videos, workbooklets and fieldwork activities, to meet the individual learning styles of each student. We aim to provide opportunities for every student to reach their full potential and grow to enjoy and appreciate our world.
GCSE: At GCSE, students follow the CCEA Specification in Years 11 and 12.
The CCEA GCSE Geography specification is topical, relevant and at the leading edge of technology. This course includes physical and human geography. Students also undertake fieldwork.
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This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Environment and Society Area of Learning at KS3.
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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.
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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.
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In Unit 3, students apply the knowledge, understanding and skills gained Unit 1 or Unit 2 to a fieldwork investigation.
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The specification has three units:
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Unit 1: Understanding Our Natural World
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Unit 2: Living in Our World
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Unit 3: Fieldwork.
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Our students take Unit 1 examination in Year 11 and Unit 2&3 examinations in Year 12.
A-Level: At A Level, we offer the CCEA Specification at AS and A2 Level.
The CCEA GCE Geography specification gives students a broad knowledge and understanding of the processes and challenges facing our world.
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This specification is available at two levels: AS and A2. Students can take the AS units plus the A2 units for a full GCE A level qualification. They can also choose to take the AS course as a stand-alone qualification.
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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.
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Those who continue to A2 can explore plate tectonics, climate change, dynamic coastal environments or tropical ecosystems. They also investigate cultural geography, ethnic diversity or tourism. They develop decision-making skills and apply these in a real world scenario.
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The specification has six units:
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Unit AS 1: Physical Geography
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Unit AS 2: Human Geography
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Unit AS 3: Fieldwork Skills and Techniques in Geography
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Unit A2 1: Physical Processes, Landforms and Management
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Unit A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography
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Unit A2 3: Decision Making in Geography.
Fieldwork
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A vital part of Geography is fieldwork whereby the real environment becomes the classroom. In many ways it is the most exciting and stimulating part of Geography. It allows us to teach the skills of geographical investigation: to define a problem, collect the relevant data, present and analyse the data and to propose a solution to the problem. Our fieldwork programme includes
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Year 8 - A Microclimate Study within the college grounds
GCSE - River Study - Colin Glen, Belfast
A Level - Sand Dunes Study – Murlough Bay , Co. Down.
Post A-Level
Geography 'overlaps' many disciplines and this is the source of the subject's flexibility and integration, giving our students the opportunity to move into a wide variety of further studies and careers. Some careers like teaching, planning, surveying and cartography will use Geography directly. But there are many careers open to geographers more by virtue of the type of trained mind geographers have than by their knowledge of the subject. Many students go into the following sectors: law, science, sales, business, environment, marketing, research, manufacturing, teaching, childcare, banking, engineering and building, arts, design and media, town and country planning and working abroad.
Enrichment/Extra Curricular
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Extra curricular opportunities are provided through our Geography Club. Various meetings, activities and events take place throughout the year and students have an opportunity to take part in an active and fun Geography trip to the Delphi Valley in Galway. We also have a Geography Gaming Club where students come together at lunchtime to play geography board and card games. It is a chance to relax and learn in a fun environment with friends. Our International trips for Senior and Upper School are very popular with students having the opportunity to explore Geography in countries including, Iceland, Finland, Tenerife and China.
CEAIG
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Career opportunities Geography aims to equip students with those lifelong skills which enable them to thrive in the work environment. Career advice is provided through Options Day Consultations, the College Careers Convention and in conjunction with STEM training opportunities and displays in all Geography classrooms.
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