Geography

Course Information

NEW for 2025

A Level Geography qualification develops students’ understanding of physical and human geography from a local through to a global scale. They develop practical fieldwork skills as they explore and think critically about the interactions between people and the environment and the issues arising.

What will I study?

•  Physical systems

  There are two topics:

• Landscape systems
  Students will explore how the landscape can be viewed as a system, how landforms developed within their chosen landscape and the influences of both climate and human activity on this. Students develop an understanding of landscape systems by studying one of the following options:
  • Option A: Coastal landscapes
  • Option B: Glaciated landscapes
  • Option C: Dryland landscapes
• Earth's life support systems
  Students will explore how important water and carbon are to life on earth through their cycling, stores and processes. The influence of human activity is explored through the tropical rainforest and arctic tundra. Physical changes in these cycles occur over time at a range of scales as well as global management strategies to protect these cycles.

• Human interaction

  Students develop a picture of how the world around them is shaped by humans, starting from the local and moving out to regional, national and international scales. There are two topics:

• Changing spaces; making places. Students explore the relationships and connections between people, the economy, and society and how these contribute to creating places.
• Global connections. Students explore the processes and flows that occur at a global level, and the ways in which these influence people, places and institutions. They must choose one option from global systems and one option from global governance.
  • Global systems
    • Option A: Trade in the contemporary world
    • Option B: Global migration
  • Global governance
    • Option C: Human rights
    • Option D: Power and borders

• Through case studies students will build up a picture of how the world around them is shaped, the complexities associated within this and the resulting issues for people.

  Geographical debates

  Students study two of the following five topics in-depth, gaining an understanding of the issues and reflecting critically on them. The topics are:

• Climate change
• Disease dilemmas
• Exploring oceans
• Future of food
• Hazardous Earth.

• Investigative geography

  Students carry out an independent investigation into an area of particular interest to them, related to any aspect of the specification. They produce a written report of around 3000 to 4000 words. Through their investigation students develop the following valuable transferable skills:

• The structure and enquiry process
• Extended writing
• Innovation in investigating and presenting data
• Self-directed study
• Research techniques
• Making synoptic links between the real world, geographical theory, the learner’s own research and the specification.

• Geographical and fieldwork skills are integrated into all aspects of the subject, helping students to ‘think geographically’.

What makes History at #H6 different?

• You listen to talks from university lecturers.
• You go on a number of educational visits.
• You get the opportunity to apply to the numerous summer schools run by London universities, to enhance your understanding and preparation for university.

How will I be assessed?

• 80% examination
• 20% coursework

Entry requirements

Five or more GCSE grades 9-5, including a minimum grade 6 in English and a Humanities or a Social Science related subject.

Our Tutors 

Our teachers have extensive experience in delivering the intricate content of Geography. They maintain strong links with the industry in order to keep themselves up to date, as well as ensuring you have an experience which will equip you equally for higher education and work. Our teachers will guide you through your journey, both academically and in terms of personal development. Our teachers are your teachers.

Our students

Our students are reflective, intelligent, outspoken, ambitious and passionate. During their time at H6, our students blossom into the people they aspire to be, into tomorrow’s historian and politicians. While most of our students progress onto History and Politics Degrees and related careers, some progress onto Public Relations, Law, Journalism and teaching. Our students are you.

Your Future

While studying at H6, our students get the opportunity to take part in events in the local community and beyond, as well as take part in work experience. You will be provided with a purposeful, learner focussed experience which will enable you to become the individual and professional you want to be. Your future is our priority.

Progression routes

Students who complete this course usually go on to study a University Degree in Geography or related subjects.

Further progression routes include employment into fields related to the civil service, voluntary sector, journalism, public relations, education, health and other public sector jobs.