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Geography

Overview

Geography is the study of Earth's physical features, environments, and human societies, exploring how they interact and shape one another. It encompasses diverse topics such as climate, landforms, populations, cultures, economies, and political systems. Geography helps you understand the world's complexities, challenges, and opportunities on local and global scales and in a world in which our future is being increasingly defined by the challenge of climate change.

Entry requirements

Students are expected to have achieved at least a 5 in GCSE Geography, if taken, or a similar subject.

Learning & Assessment

Why study this subject?

A level Geography gives you the chance to study both aspects of human and physical Geography giving you a much broader understanding.

You will develop a range of inter-disciplinary skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, data collection and analysis and have the opportunity to explore and develop an independent piece of research via your coursework module.

What can you expect from this A level?

Each week in Geography, you'll build subject knowledge, essay writing, and maths skills to support you with your exams. You'll also go on a number of trips to develop fieldwork skills across the region.

What can you do with a qualification in this subject?

By studying A Level Geography, a range of progression routes becomes available. Students can pursue degrees in environmental science, architecture, politics, sociology, and economics.

This subject also opens up various career opportunities in fields such as urban planning, environmental consultancy, policy analysis, and social research.

Assessment

The assessment consists of four components:

Component 1 (30%),
Component 2 (30%),
Component 3 (20%)
They are each 2-hour 15-minute written examinations that test various areas of the course.

Component 4 (20%) is coursework, allowing for independent research and analysis. Together, these components provide a comprehensive evaluation of your skills and knowledge.

Modules / Topics

Component 1

Changing Places and Changing Coastal landscapes.

Component 2

Global Systems and Global Governance.

Component 3

Tectonic Hazards, Energy Challenges and Dilemmas & Development in Africa.

Component 4

Independent Investigation (Coursework).

Trips / Visits / Enrichment

Enrichment
Duke of Edinburgh

Trips
6th October 2025 - Earth Studies - Climate Conference - Year 13 Students
7th October 2025 - Earth Studies - Amble Fieldtrip - Year 13 Students

Kate Gardner

Director of Faculty for Humanities, Politics, Business, Economics and Law

"I have been a teacher for over 28 years and still enjoy passing on my love of all things geographical. I am still passionate about the connection that geography gives us to the world as one of the most relevant subjects in our ever-changing planet. I have had so many wonderful opportunities to introduce students to the subject both inside and outside the classroom from visiting beautiful locations in the UK such as Northumberland, the Lake District and the Yorkshire coast but as far away as Iceland!"

William Maddison

Year 12 Student

"At NSFC, everyone is incredibly nice and it's a positive place to come and it feels extremely safe. The A-Levels in general give you the knowledge that you know you will need if you intend to go to university."

Urban Planner

Develop plans and policies for land use in urban areas, ensuring sustainable development that meets the needs of current and future populations.
Conduct site assessments and engage with community stakeholders to gather input and build consensus on development proposals.

Environmental Consultant

Conduct environmental impact assessments for projects, advising clients on sustainability practices and regulatory compliance.
Develop strategies to minimise ecological footprints and promote environmentally friendly practices within organisations.

Policy Analyst

Research and analyse socio-economic and environmental data, preparing reports that inform governmental policies and community programs.
Contribute to effective legislation by providing evidence-based recommendations that address societal challenges.

Social Researcher

Design and conduct studies to gather data on social issues, analysing trends to provide insights that shape public policy and community initiatives.
Collaborate with community organisations to implement research findings and evaluate the effectiveness of programs.

Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Specialist

Utilise GIS technology to collect, map, and analyse spatial data, aiding in urban planning, environmental management, and resource allocation.
Create data visualisations and reports to communicate geographic insights to stakeholders and inform decision-making.

Disaster Management Coordinator

Plan and implement strategies for risk assessment and emergency response in areas prone to natural disasters, and engage with local authorities and community groups.
Develop preparedness training programs and conduct drills to ensure community resilience in the event of a disaster.

Environmental Educator

Design and deliver educational programs that engage students and community members on environmental conservation and sustainability.
Organise workshops and field trips to promote awareness and understanding of environmental issues and practices.

Market Research Analyst

Analyse geographic and demographic data to identify target markets and consumer behaviours, informing business decisions and marketing strategies.
Conduct surveys and focus groups to gather insights on geographic trends and preferences, providing recommendations for product development.

November Open Evening 2026

Wednesday 4th November 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

Open Evening - 2nd December 2026

Wednesday 2nd December 2026
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Find out more

16 October 2026

Up and Running - Enrichment Success

This first half term for our Year 12 students has been the most successful ever for our Enrichment programme, which takes places on Tuesday afternoons. With a range of activities covering skills development, social, physical and practical extra curricular, we have over 700 students participating in 42 activities. Ranging from British Sign Language and IBM Cyber Security to Music and Film Production and even Dungeons and Dragons, these weekly sessions are an important part of our ASPIRE programme, and develop the community and ambition of our students in their first couple of weeks as part of NSFC. A major success this year has been our running club, which builds on our sponsorship of the Great North 10k and Great North 5k runs, which happened over the Summer, and saw over 400 participants from across our colleges. The group meet weekly and have both a competitive 5k run, and a less challenging run for those who simply want to get out and get some exercise. Led by Director of Curriculum Kate Gardner, this is a great example of our students engaging in physical activities and working together as a college community. Our first student experience survey illustrated the huge success of a range of our wider enrichments with great reviews of ‘A Taste of China’ for Chinese language beginners, ‘Performance Lab’ where students prepare a Christmas showcase and Film Production which is hosted and managed by a professional production company Digital Sidekick and builds real industry leading skills.

15 October 2026

'Unloc'king our Real Potential - Student Governor Event

A selected group of students, attended a one day conference and selection event to find our new Student Governor, hosted by Unloc, a youth organisation dedicated to empowering young people with programmes designed to develop skills and experience in developing leaders and the student voice. Nadine Dosky, Lauren Dudley, Yasemin Aysa Yildiz and Niamh Richardson attended the event as part of the NSFC group and engaged amazingly throughout the day, gaining valuable experience and eventually selecting Nadine as our next Student Governor for the academic year 2026-2027. The NCG Prospective Student Governors Event was a practical and creative hybrid day that explored the key skills needed for student leadership and representation, with sessions including, ‘being a changemaker,’ ‘creating your pitches’ and ‘selecting your new governors.’ The small group of students from NSFC really benefitted from the activity led by Ben and Kellie from Unloc, and were really grateful to have been selected as potential leaders from among our fabulous students at the sixth form.

9 October 2026

Ready to Aspire

The students at Newcastle Sixth Form College are taking on a new vision for our college community, with the acronym ASPIRE, to help them succeed and really enjoy their A Level experience.

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Your courses

Geography

Overview

Entry requirements