As Geographers we aim to make sense of the diversity around us. We live in a multicultural society and interdependent world where incidents in one place are caught up in chains of events spanning the globe. Within the Department we encourage students to engage with both local and Global events in an attempt to understand the connections that exist between students at Dean Close and the wider world. We hope that by the end of their time at Dean Close our students will have learnt to appreciate how people’s attitudes differ and that these differences may influence social, environmental, economic and political issues whilst at the same time developing their own values and attitudes.
A Big Idea that spans all that we do in the Geography Department is the concept of Place. This can involve anything ranging from in depth study of a multiple Hazards associated with Haiti or to the social, economic, environmental pressures on the Dorset Coastline. Google Earth is used frequently to zoom around from place to place to ensure students have a sound understanding of locations.
The Work
At A level we follow the OCR specification whilst at GCSE we follow the AQA A specification. At both GCSE and A level, sets are determined by the option group in which Geography was chosen. At A level students have two teachers with the work split largely into Human Geography and Physical Geography whilst at GCSE there is one teacher who will teach the whole of the course. Download the guides to studying Geography at Dean Close:
Upper Sixth
Lower Sixth
GCSE
Business Leaders Recommend Geography
Geography Outside the Curriculum
Goudie Society
Andrew Goudie is a Professor of Geography at Oxford and an Old Decanian. The society meets two or three times a year with the aim of exploring and discussing ideas outside the regular curriculum. In 2010 – 2011 the first meeting focused on landscape and literature and how it impacts on our understanding of Geography. http://prezi.com/qrlqikx1sszc/geography-and-landscape/
The second meeting considered a wide range of Global Issues and how these impact on people both directly and indirectly.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a central part of both the GCSE and A-level courses but at present there is no fieldwork in Year 9. 25% of the GCSE examination is based on primary data collection and is called ‘Controlled Assessment’. At A level, one module ‘Geographical skills’ worth 20% of the overall A level grade is based on primary and secondary fieldwork, although there is an expectation that scholars will do fieldwork as part of their AS studies. It is not difficult to find the many and varied references to the benefits of school geography. For example:
Fieldwork is the best and most immediate means of bringing the two aspects of the subject together in the experience of the pupil. Therefore, fieldwork is a necessary part of geographical education; it is not an optional extra. Bailey, P. (1974) Teaching Geography NEWTON ABBOT, p184
Sixth Form fieldwork : Snowdonia, Bewdley, Birmingham, Cheltenham, Dartmoor
Lower School : Cheltenham, Forest of Dean