Mrs R Wainwright
Mrs H Keelan-Edwards
Miss M J Murray
Miss S Raymond
The study of geography at Ripon Grammar School gives all students the opportunity to:
First year
Map Skills/
Exploring Britain
Rivers
Exploring Africa
Weather and Climate
Rocks and Soils
Second Year
Ecosystems
Hot and Cold Landscapes -
Polar and Desert
Globalisation- India;
Industry and economic activity
Coasts
Aerial and marine
Use of natural resources – Energy - link to climate change
Russia and Middle East
Third Year
Plate Tectonics
Development-
Who will be the next Superpower?
Asia – India and China
Glaciation
Contrasting Megacities - LA/Dhaka/London
Fourth and Fifth forms:
Unit 1: Living with the physical environment
Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK: Coasts and Rivers
Unit 2: Challenges in the human environment
Topics studied:
Unit 3: Geographical Application
Critical thinking and problem-solving element of the course designed to examine your understanding and application of topics studied.
Fieldwork: 2 fieldwork days in two contrasting areas.
Full syllabus links for examination classes can be found here
Exam board: AQA GCSE Specification
A revision guide is available
Topic: Dynamic Landscapes: Tectonic Processes
Topic 2: Coastal Landscapes and Change
Topic 3: Dynamic Places: Globalisation
Topic 4A: Regenerating Places
AS level examination format:
Paper 1: Dynamic Landscapes (*Paper code: 8GE0/01)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
90 marks
Paper 2: Dynamic Places (*Paper code: 8GE0/02)
Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes
50% of the qualification
90 marks
Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
Topic 7: Human Systems and Geopolitics: Superpowers
Topic 8: Global Development and Connections; Migration, Identity and Sovereignty.
Non-examination assessment: Independent Investigation (9GE0/04) Non-examined assessment which is 20% of the qualification and based on 70 marks. This is based on two days of fieldwork in Liverpool and Formby.
A level examination format:
Paper 1 (Paper code: 9GE0/01) Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes making up 30% of the qualification / 105 marks on Topic 1, 2, 5 & 6
Paper 2 (Paper code: 9GE0/02) Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes making up 30% of the qualification / 105 marks on Topics 3, 4A, 7 & 8
Paper 3 (*Paper code: 9GE0/03) Written examination: 2 hours and 15 minutes making up 20% of the qualification / 70 marks based on Issue Evaluation
Full syllabus links for examination classes can be found http://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/A%20Level/Geography/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/Pearson-Edexcel-GCE-A-level-Geography-specification-issue-2-FINAL.pdf
Exam board: AQA A level specification
Revision guides are available.
There is no setting in geography. Students in KS3 are taught in form groups; at KS4 and 5, groups are allocated according to timetabling dependent upon students’ choices.
Revision sessions
Six weeks prior to examination dates students will be issued with a revision session timetable (which is also published on the website). All revision sessions are voluntary for students to attend and take place at lunchtime.
The department hosts a number of field trips to enhance students’ learning.
First Form: Students in the first term complete a half day field work investigation in the local area visiting Ripon market Place and the Cathedral area.
Second form: A one-day trip to the Holderness Coast to investigate coastal erosion and management, in the summer term;
Third form; A one day fieldtrip to a city.
Fourth form: Students have the option of attending a summer residential field trip to Sorrento, Italy. The trip includes excursions to Mt Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Amalfi Coast.
Fifth form: A trip focused on the fieldwork skills required for the examination to York investigating the challenges and opportunities of urban living and river studies.
Lower Sixth:
Compulsory: 4 days of fieldwork; two days in March in Leeds and Hornsea and two days in the summer term in Liverpool and Formby.
Optional: Iceland five-day expedition in spring/summer term.