Geography

Lower School

Geography is about understanding the world around us, and increasingly, understanding how we interact with that world. Pupils at Cranleigh will benefit from becoming informed about how physical and human environments interact, how their lives are connected with other people and places, and why and how the world’s landscapes and societies are changing in the early part of the 21st century. They also develop skills that are central to modern life, such as independent and team working outside the classroom, using ICT, and analysing and interpreting a wide variety of different data sources, as well as developing a sense of social and environmental responsibility.

Fourth Form

In the Fourth Form, pupils are introduced to geographical processes and skills initially through studying their local area and carrying out an investigation into local Cranleigh’s place in the settlement hierarchy. They go on to look at three major themes in the year: the geography of China and it role in the 21st century; the impact of the London Olympics; and glaciation. The year finishes with a section designed
to develop their ability to interpret maps, photographs, and other forms of data presentation, so as to best prepare them for studying at GCSE.

GCSE 

At GCSE we teach AQA’s GCSE specification. Whilst it retains a core of traditional geographical content, we believe this course also offers opportunities for pupils to study contemporary themes and events that will enable them to relate their learning to the world they live in and the events they experience. Our aim is for pupils to gain a clear overall view of the world in the 21st century, and to provide a foundation for those who intend to continue to study the subject to a higher level.

The course is examined through two exam papers (one each in Physical Geography and Human Geography) worth a combined 75%. The remainder is a Controlled Assessment of a local fieldwork investigation (presently carried out on coastal processes at West Wittering). The coursework is all done in lesson time and so pupils need not be worried about it being onerous on their time in a way that it might have been in the past.

The Physical Geography paper uses rivers, coasts, glacial landscapes, and rainforest ecosystems to examine natural processes, their consequences for people, the impact of people on such landscapes, and the need for them to be carefully managed.  The Human Geography paper is concerned with population growth and movement, processes affecting both urban and rural settlements, development, tourism, and, central to all of these, the concept of globalisation.

Sixth Form

Geography is the study of the earth’s landscape, people, places, and the environment.  Simply put, it helps us to make sense of the issues affecting people and nature in the world around us.  It is often seen as a unique bridging subject between the natural (physical geography) and the social sciences (human geography).  The analytical skills it requires are transferable to many different contexts, and geographers have a fine reputation of going on to be successful graduates and business leaders.

Geography at Cranleigh is a thriving subject. You will study a diverse range of contemporary issues and the processes that cause them: development and inequalities, the climate crisis, fluvial and tectonic hazards, the explosion in global tourism, and the issues affecting urban and rural communities in different parts of the world.  We also take you out to the “real world”, with a residential fieldtrip in the Lower Sixth as well as a number of day trips over the two years of study.  

AS

For AS Level, two modules are studied and exams taken in June of the Lower Sixth year:

“Managing Change in Physical Environments” which is divided into four sections: River Environments; Coastal Environments; Cold Environments; and Hot Arid and Semi-Arid Environments. A wide variety of physical environments and the processes that formed them is therefore studied alongside the role of human impact.

“Managing Change in Human Environments” which is also divided into four sections: Managing Urban Change; Managing Rural Change; The Energy Issue; and The Growth of Tourism. The dynamic natures of several human environments are explored; the processes responsible for their formation and how humans have tried to manage change are also analysed.

A2

For A2, two further modules are studied.  First, “Global Issues”: this is split into Environmental and Economic Issues (30% of A Level).  Environmental Issues comprises the study of Earth Hazards and Climatic Hazards. The first of these analyses the processes of, and problems created by, tectonics, mass movements and floods; the second studies atmospheric hazards (tropical cyclones and other extremes of weather) and global climatic change. The relationship between hazard and vulnerability is explored alongside the role of predication and forecast.

Economic Issues focuses on Development and Inequalities and you are invited to question the underlying causes behind differences in standards of living. Is globalisation widening or narrowing the development gap? How do trade and aid contribute to the process? How do differences in development affect environmental issues?

The remaining paper is “Geographical Skills” (20% of the A Level).  The module aims to equip you with the sophisticated skills of geographical field research and investigation. You will complete your own fieldwork investigation after your AS exams in the Summer Term of the Lower Sixth, which we then use as a basis for developing skills around project management.  This paper is hugely valuable for preparing you to study in higher education, regardless of the subject.