Our Geography course develops a coherent and balanced understanding of our changing world, its human interactions and physical processes. Through Geography, we develop the knowledge and skills to enable us to contribute to our local communities and wider society. The study of Geography fosters positive life-long attitudes of environmental stewardship, sustainability and global citizenship. Practical activities, including fieldwork, provide opportunities for us to interact with our environment. Studying Geography at either level develops a variety of transferrable skills which you can use in wider life and future work. These include, but are in no way limited to:
- Organisation
- Notetaking
- Research
- Independent learning
- Critical thinking
- Describing
- Explaining
- Comparing
- Analysing
- Evaluating
- Interpreting
- Mapping
- Fieldworking
Where can Geography take you?
The study of Geography and the development of the skills listed above open a wide variety of career choices to you, including those in the fields of:
- Energy and utilities, e.g. petroleum engineer, geochemist.
- Agriculture/countryside, e.g. Farmer, tree surgeon, ecologist, countryside manager, landscape architect, coastal manager.
- Education, e.g. Geography teacher, private tutor, university lecturer, environmental educator.
- Science and research, e.g. Geologist, statistician, research scientist.
- Public sector, e.g. Member of Parliament, civil servant, environmental health officer.
- Consultancy, e.g. Management consultant, data analyst, IT consultant.
- Development, e.g. Development economist, international aid worker, government policy advisor.
- Environment, e.g. Conservation officer, air quality analyst, sustainability consultant, recycling officer, soil conservationist, environmental manager.
- Travel and tourism, e.g. tour guide, travel consultant, tourism officer, travel journalist.
- Geoscience, e.g. Geologist, geomorphologist, hydrologist, geophysicist.
- Weather, e.g. Climatologist, weather forecaster, meteorologist, climate change analyst.
- Mapping, e.g. Cartographer, geographical information systems (GIS) analyst, GIS consultant.
- Built environment, e.g. Commercial surveyor, residential surveyor, property manager, town planner, transport manager, planning surveyor.
- Risk, e.g. Catastrophe modeller, flood modeller, emergency planner, risk analyst, environmental insurance specialist.
Topics covered at National 4/5 levels in Geography are:
Physical Environments
- Weather
- Landscape features – upland limestone, rivers and their valleys.
- Land uses, conflicts and solutions – farming, forestry, industry, recreation and tourism, renewable energies.
Human Environments
- Population studies
- Urban areas
- Rural areas
Global Issues
- Global Climate Change – evidence for, causes, effects, strategies.
- Health – distribution of various world diseases, their causes, effects and strategies to employed to tackle them.
Below you can get an idea of how your learning is assessed in Geography.
We build in skills from S1 so that by S4 you are more confident in your ability.
- N4: continual assessment throughout the year and Added Value Unit (AVU)
- N5: assignment (written under exam conditions) and final exam
Geographical skills assessed:
- developing and applying skills and detailed knowledge and understanding in geographical contexts.
- researching and using information collected from a range of sources about geographical issues.
- using a range of mapping skills to interpret OS maps.
- using a range of research skills, including fieldwork skills.
- using and interpreting a range of numerical and graphical information.
- demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the physical environment of Scotland by giving detailed descriptions and explanations.
- demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the human environment in a global context by giving detailed descriptions and giving detailed explanations.
- demonstrating knowledge and understanding of selected global issues by giving detailed descriptions and giving detailed explanations.
Topics covered at Higher level in Geography are:
Physical and Human Environments
- Atmosphere
- Lithosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
- Urban
- Rural
- Population
Global Issues
- River basin management.
- Development and health.
- Global Climate Change.
- Energy.
Below you can get an idea of how your learning is assessed in Higher Geography.
We continue to build on skills learned from S1 and practiced throughout your National 4/5 so that by the time you experience Higher level, you are more than confident in your ability. HIGHER: assignment (written under exam conditions) and final exam.
Geographical skills assessed:
- Interpretation and analysis.
- Using OS maps, photographs, field sketches, cross sections & transects.
- Using statistical, graphical and tabular information.
- Gathering, processing, interpreting and evaluating fieldwork.
- Apply knowledge and understanding of significant global geographical issues.