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Geography

Geography is a subject that is relevant today and in the future.  It addresses issues as diverse as climate change, world population, living sustainably and the future of urban development.  It teaches students to think outside the box, to analyse, investigate and apply rigour to problems. It sits between the sciences and the arts and gives students a broad perspective on the world and the problems it faces.  It is looked on well by institutions of further and higher education, as well as employers. Students who study Geography generally increase their life opportunities. Geographers go on into many career paths from town planning to engineering; from transport to medical research.  It is a challenging subject as it asks students to think independently and to come up with ideas, as well as understand some complex interactions in the physical and human world. For those students who choose to study it, and work hard, it is very rewarding.

We have a committed team of friendly and supportive staff in Geography who work hard to support students in achieving their very best.  We set high standards and expectations and we expect the same from our students.  Our examination results have steadily improved over the past few years and it is a continually popular option subject at KS4 and growing at KS5.  

Here at Astley Cooper, we strive to ensure that all learners are given the opportunity to reach their full potential, both in and out of the classroom to enhance learning.  We regularly allow students the opportunity to experience fieldwork on and off the school site at all Key Stages; however we are looking to expand the range of fieldwork opportunities at KS3. At KS4 we currently run successful trips to field studies centres, where students are supported to carry out geographical investigations in order to fulfil the exam specification requirements. At KS5, students also conduct fieldwork, in order to plan and write up their coursework based on their own research. In November 2020, the year 12 and 13 students conducted a human geography investigation, looking at the changing nature of Great Missenden. With the recent changes to the exam board specifications, Geography is still one of a handful of subjects that has fieldwork as an essential component of the course, as it is essential for bringing together theoretical learning with real world patterns and processes. . 

The Astley Cooper School is pleased to offer Geography as a core component at KS3 and an option choice from GCSE to A level.

Subject Leader of Humanities, Mrs R Waters