Friday 9th March 2012
Congratulations to Sarah Gardner who was crowned classical winner of Next Brit Thing 2012 earlier t...
Read full news story...Thursday 2nd February 2012
Charlie Vasiliou has reached the final of the Young Drummer of the Year competition, after fighting...
Read full news story...Tuesday 31st January 2012
The Department for Education published the school performance league tables this week....
Read full news story...
Geography is a subject that seeks to explain the physical nature of our environment and its intimate relationship with the human societies we are all a part of. Such understanding is so vital for modern society and is so useful in conjunction with a range of other academic disciplines that it is increasingly sought by employers and higher education institutions. Did you know...recent research has confirmed that with only 10% of university graduates directly using the academic subjects in which they are qualification in their employment? In these tough economic times, it is Geographers who are among the least likely to be unemployed on leaving higher education!
Here at Yarm School, the Geography department offers a huge range of opportunity for the students to investigate, enjoy and achieve in the subject. The Department currently has three dedicated and specialist Geography teachers, all of whom are experienced at teaching up and including A-Level:
Mr A O Newman (Head of Department)
Mrs L Kneale
Mr T J Parker
Miss R L Bownas
Geography is compulsory in the lower years and during this time pupils are given a taste of both local and global geographical matters. In the First year, this includes Local Studies of Yarm and the North east of England. World Development, including case studies of China and the USA, is studied in the Second year, and finally Global Issues in the form of a virtual ‘world tour’ completes the cycle in the Third year.
At GCSE level, the Department follows the AQA Specification A syllabus (4032). It is an increasingly popular choice as an option subject and offers a broad qualification in the major aspects of the subject, involving elements of Geography such as the natural world, the human world and geographical skills. Regular field visits to local sites, including a residential visit to the Cranedale Centre (near Malton) for the coursework element (), are an integral part of the course.
For the AS/A2 programme, the Department follows the Edexcel Specification A syllabus (8GEO1). At this stage, a more detailed, sophisticated and contemporary study of the subject is undertaken, with modules addressing issues concerning climate change, sustainable development, urban management and rebranding. A residential visit to Barcelona is currently an option during the AS course for the fieldwork and skills elements, as well as valuable case study material for the core studies. This is supplemented over the duration of the course by several day trips to regional case study locations at A2.
Extra Curricular provision is provided in the form of the Geography Society, which provides a great opportunity for pupils from all year groups to experience and enjoy the geography of the local area. Visits and excursions, including Stump Cross Caverns and Brimham Rocks in the Yorkshire Dales, are regularly laid on and participated in. An innovative and popular new club called ‘Geo-photography’ has given pupils a chance to investigate the world around them through photography and look at the themes of everyday life through images.
At Yarm School, we believe that Geography is a fascinating, stimulating and highly relevant subject...but don’t just take our word for it, see what others have to say:
“Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future.” (MICHAEL PALIN)
“It deals with issues that are central for society and equips the young to face the future.” (Prof. ANDREW GOUDIE - Oxford University)
“Geography teaches us of the wide varieties of our planet…it is an essential subject of the modern individual.” (DAVID ATTENBOURGH)
“I like Geography because we can learn about the rest of the world in a fun way”
“I like Geography because our teachers are fun and interesting” (1st YEAR YARM GEOGRAPHERS)
