Year 12 – 13

Geography

Key Stage: KS5

Exam Board: OCR

Qualification Gained: A Level Geography

Assessment Breakdown: OCR A Level Geography (H481)

A Level Geography is assessed linearly at the end of Year 13 through three written examinations and one independent investigation.

  • Paper 1: Physical Systems – 22%

Assesses Glaciated Landscapes and Earth’s Life Support Systems.

  • Paper 2: Human Interactions – 22%

Assesses Changing Spaces; Making Places and Global Connections topics.

  • Paper 3: Geographical Debates – 36%

Assesses Hazardous Earth and Future of Food, with synoptic links across the course.

  • Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) – Independent investigation – 20%

Students design, conduct and evaluate their own fieldwork enquiry.

Entry Requirements: Eight or more GCSEs at grades 9-4, as well as a minimum grade 6 in Geography and English Language.

At Hammersmith Academy, our Geography curriculum empowers students to become resourceful, globally minded citizens and responsible stewards of the planet. Through an ambitious and knowledge-rich curriculum, students develop the geographical understanding and analytical skills needed for real-world success in an interconnected and rapidly changing world.

Our Geography curriculum inspires curiosity about the world while developing a deep understanding of the relationships between people, places and environments.

We are committed to:

  • Building Cultural Capital – Drawing on our diverse inner-city London context to explore global interconnections and perspectives.
  • Developing Resourceful Learners – Equipping students with investigative, analytical and evaluative skills to solve real-world problems.
  • Fostering Responsible Citizenship – Encouraging critical thinking about sustainability, inequality and global development.
  • Ensuring Equity and Excellence – Delivering an ambitious curriculum accessible to all, enabling outstanding progress.

We follow OCR A Level Geography (H481), which provides a rigorous framework for understanding contemporary global challenges. Students study Physical Systems (Paper 1) and Human Interactions (Paper 2) concurrently, enabling them to appreciate the links between environmental processes and human activity from the outset.

Fieldwork is central to the course. In Year 12, students undertake residential fieldwork to Blencathra in the Lake District, supporting the study of glaciated landscapes and developing essential data collection and enquiry skills.

Year-by-Year Curriculum

Year 12

Modules include:

Module 1: Physical Systems – Glaciated Landscapes

Students explore glacial processes, landforms and landscape evolution, applying fieldwork techniques during the Lake District residential.

Module 2: Human Interactions – Changing Spaces; Making Places

This unit examines identity, place perception and regeneration, linking local London case studies with national and global examples.

Module 3: Physical Systems – Earth’s Life Support Systems

Students investigate the water and carbon cycles, analysing their importance in supporting life and regulating climate.

Module 4: Human Interactions – Power & Borders

Learners examine global governance, sovereignty and geopolitical tensions in an increasingly interconnected world.

Module 5: Migration & Introduction to the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA)

Students study migration patterns and begin planning their independent geographical investigation.

Module 6: Non-Examined Assessment (NEA)

Students design, conduct and write up an independent fieldwork investigation, applying geographical enquiry and analytical skills.

Year 13

Modules include:

Module 1: Hazardous Earth

Students explore tectonic and atmospheric hazards, evaluating risk, vulnerability and management strategies.

Module 2: Future of Food

This unit investigates global food security, sustainability and the environmental and socio-economic challenges of feeding a growing population.

Module 3: Synoptic Links and Advanced Geographical Debates

Students develop evaluative skills by linking physical and human geography themes across the specification.

Module 4: Revision and Examination Readiness

Focused preparation consolidates subject knowledge, essay technique and data interpretation skills for final assessments.

Skills Gained

  • Advanced data analysis and statistical interpretation
  • Critical evaluation of complex literature and case studies
  • Extended essay writing and structured argumentation
  • Confident use of GIS and geospatial technologies
  • Independent research and fieldwork enquiry skills

Partnerships & Enrichment

  • Residential fieldwork in the Lake District (Blencathra)
  • Urban fieldwork in Stratford, London
  • Advanced fieldwork opportunities in Snowdonia, North Wales
  • Engagement with current affairs, case studies and geographical debates

Potential Careers & Progression

Geography supports progression into a wide range of careers, including:

Politics and International Relations | Journalism and Media | Business and Finance | Advertising and Marketing | Teaching and Education | Management Consultancy | Environmental Planning and Sustainability