St Mary's School Calne

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Why Choose St Mary's?

Geography

Image'Without geography you are … NOWHERE!’

‘As a young man, my fondest dream was to become a geographer. However, while working in the Customs Office I thought deeply about the matter and concluded it was far too difficult a subject. With some reluctance I turned to Physics as an alternative’ - Albert Einstein (allegedly!)

Why choose geography?
Geography tackles the big issues:
  • environmental responsibility
  • global interdependence
  • cultural understanding and tolerance
  • commerce, trade and industry.
The world in which we live is likely to change more in the next 50 years than it has ever done before. Geography explains why, and helps to prepare us for those changes. It is about the future and encourages flexible thinking. The transferable skills which it fosters are an asset in a complex world. Geographical study provides a firm basis for life-long learning.

What do geographers do?
Famous geographers include Mother Theresa, Prince William, Michael Jordan, Rob Andrew, Matthew Pinsent, Chris Patten and James Cracknell. Compared to other subjects, Geography graduates are among the most employable. They possess the skills that employers look for. This is partly because the subject combines a knowledge of science and an understanding of the arts.

Geographers can:
  • handle data and analyse material
  • ask questions and find answers
  • make decisions about an issue
  • organise themselves and think creatively and independently
Geographers are:
  • good communicators
  • spatially, socially, economically and environmentally aware
  • problem solvers
  • good team players
  • computer literate
  • well rounded, flexible thinkers
‘Studying people + places + processes = studying LIFE.’

Keystage 3

In the lower school, we study a wide variety of topics from map skills and rivers and coasts, to global fashions and the geographies of crime and sport. We go on fieldtrips locally to the Cherhill Downs and the River Bottle, and further afield to Lulworth Cove and Studland Bay.

GCSE


The course (OCR syllabus B) essentially investigates the relationship between people and their environments in a variety of contexts. In addition to two examination papers, two pieces of coursework are completed. One is based on a topical issue of global concern such as Deforestation or a large scale development project such as the Three Gorges Dam, and the other is a fieldwork-based investigation in the local area.

AS and A Level 

The A Level course (EDEXCEL syllabus A) begins with a residential trip to Devon for a weekend in late September or early October. The data collected is used to write up two fieldwork reports which are the basis of one of the examination papers at AS Level. The other two papers at this level are divided into Human and Physical topics. All examinations take place in the Summer Term (although there are resit opportunities in January).
The A Level course includes topical issues such as debt relief, sustainable development, migration and natural hazards.

Geography is a very popular subject at St Mary's, with a high uptake at GCSE and A Level. We aim to raise the girls' awareness and interest in major geographical issues at a range of scales.


Results
At GCSE level – 100% A*-B grades for the past 6 years
At A Level – more than 90% A-B grades for the past 4 years

Staff
Mrs S Froggatt
Mrs S Hornby
Mrs N Botterill
Miss C Sear

‘Geography – helping you make sense of the world.’


Mrs Sue Froggatt (Head of Department)