Year 12 – 13

Geography

Key Stage: KS5

Exam Board: Edexcel

Qualification Gained: A Level Geography

Assessment Breakdown: Pearson Edexcel A Level Geography (9GE)

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

  • Paper 1: Physical Systems – 30%

Assesses Tectonic Processes and Hazards, Landscape Systems, Processes and Change (Glaciated Landscapes and Change), and the Physical Systems and Sustainability topic of The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity.

  • Paper 2: Human Geography – 30%

Assesses Globalisation, Shaping Places (Regenerating Places), and Global Governance (Health, Human Rights and Intervention).

  • Paper 3: Synoptic Investigation s – 20%

Assesses synoptic understanding across the course through analysis of an unseen geographical resource booklet.

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

Students design, conduct and evaluate their own independent geographical investigation.

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 Pearson Edexcel A Level Geography (9GE0), which provides a rigorous framework for understanding contemporary global challenges. Students study Physical Geography (Paper 1) and Human Geography (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

Module 1-2:  Physical Geography – Glacial landscapes and change

Students explore glaciated landscape systems, processes and change, investigating the formation of glacial landforms and the impact of climate change on glaciated environments. These concepts are supported through fieldwork in the Lake District.

Module 1-2: Human Geography – Regenerating Places

Students investigate how and why places change over time, exploring economic and social regeneration in urban and rural areas. Local and national case studies are used to examine the success of regeneration strategies.

Module 3-5: Physical Systems and Sustainability – The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity

Students investigate the operation of the global water cycle and examine issues surrounding water supply, demand and management at a variety of scales.

Module 3-6: Globalisation and Superpowers

Students explore the causes and consequences of globalisation, considering its impacts on economies, societies, cultures and environments around the world.

Module 6: Introduction to the Non-Examined Assessment (NEA)

Students develop fieldwork and research skills while planning their independent geographical investigation.

Year 13

Module 1-2: Tectonic Processes and Hazards

Students explore plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes and hazard management, evaluating risk, vulnerability and resilience.

Module 1-2: Health, Human Rights and Intervention

Students investigate global inequalities in health and human rights and evaluate the role of governments and international organisations in promoting development and intervention.

Module 3-4: Synoptic Investigation and Connections

Students develop evaluative skills by linking physical and human geography themes across the specification and applying them to unfamiliar contexts.

Module 4-5: Examination Preparation

Focused preparation consolidates subject knowledge, essay technique, geographical skills and data interpretation 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