Geography

An enquiry-based approach to the study of geographical information, issues and concepts

Enabling critical and reflective thinkers

WJEC GCSE Geography adopts an enquiry-based approach to the study of geographical information, issues and concepts. It is based on the principle that geographical education should enable learners to become critical and reflective thinkers by engaging them actively in the enquiry process.

Content is organised around key questions and learners are encouraged to pose geographical questions of their own. At Key Stage 4 learners study the WJEC Geography course, which is split into three sections.

Unit 1

Changing Physical and Human Landscapes

Section A

Theme 1: Landscapes and Physical Processes (distinctive landscapes – Snowdonia investigation, rivers and flooding, coastal processes).
Theme 2: Rural-urban Links (Population, rural and urban change and global cities).

Section B

Theme 3: Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards (plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and managing their impacts.).

Written Examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes; 40% of qualification, taken in Year 11.

Unit 2

Environmental and Development issues

Section A

Theme 5: Weather, Climate and Ecosystems (climate change, extreme weather, UK weather, ecosystems).
Theme 6: Development and Resource Issues (global inequalities, water resources, regional economic development, globalisation).

Section B

Theme 7: Social Development Issues (measures of development, contemporary development issues, access to education and spread of disease in Africa).

Written Examination: 1 hour and 30 minutes; 40% of qualification, taken in Year 11.

Unit 3

Fieldwork Enquiry

Two days of fieldwork spent developing fieldwork skills and collecting data for the set task followed by a set task provided by the examination board. One fieldwork is to be conducted in a human landscape, e.g. Wrexham town, the other in a physical landscape, e.g. at a river.

Non-examination assessment: 2 hours and 30 minutes; 20% of qualification, taken in Year 11. Fieldwork will usually be completed in Year 10 during the summer.

Enrichment Opportunities

Berlin and Krakow Trip
Duke of Edinburgh
Year 8 History Castle Building Competition

Homework

Homework can take a variety of forms including written tasks, revision exercises, online tasks and preparation for coursework or practical examinations. The aim of homework is to supplement the learning that takes place in the classroom and instil independent learning, a crucial lifelong skill. Staff aim to give ample time to complete homework tasks so learners should plan their own time carefully in order to meet deadlines. The frequency of homework can vary depending on the number of lessons offered over a fortnight.

The majority of subject areas make use of Google Classroom to communicate any homework requirements to the learners. I would encourage learners and parents/carers to check Google Classrooms regularly.

Parents/Carers should endeavour to provide a quiet space for their children to complete homework tasks. Where this is not possible, the school does provide such places for learners to access in their lunchtime or afterschool hours. Please encourage learners to discuss this with their tutors or progress leaders in the first instance.

Feedback

Feedback will be verbally given throughout lessons according to set tasks. Students will be expected to act positively on the feedback given and to improve or refine their work.

There will be feedback lessons following some assessments to allow students to improve their work in DIRT based on the guidance given.

Assessment

Assessment is an important aspect of a learner’s learning journey. Apart from indicating the current performance of an individual, assessments also inform learners and staff which areas they need to develop. At Ysgol y Grango, staff continuously assess a learner’s progress through a variety of methods. This could include informal assessment, such as quizzes or observations, or formal assessments, such as written tests or coursework.

Ysgol y Grango use an online system called Go4Schools to track and monitor individual learners. Learners and parents/carers can also access information such as reports and subject progress through their own Go4schools login.

Throughout Key stage 4, learners will sit various external assessments. The timing of these assessments varies depending on the subject. Some of these assessment timings are controlled by the school but many are put in place by the examination board. As such it is important that learners are present for these assessments as missing elements of a course can significantly affect the overall grade for a learner.

There will be 3 formal assessments per year. These will include peer-marked knowledge questions, multiple choice and extended written responses during each topic.