Geography

Why study Geography?

The study of Geography enables us to understand the world around us, both the natural world of earthquakes, volcanoes and other amazing phenomena and the man made world of cities, industry and agriculture.

Students use a wide range of techniques and resources, such as maps, graphs and statistical evidence, which are assimilated in order to carry out decision- making exercises in a variety of settings.

Pupils particularly enjoy Geography because of its breadth and the interconnections they discover between different elements of their environment.

Which specification is followed?

At A level we follow the WJEC specification and at GCSE, AQA (A). These were carefully chosen to give the students the best opportunity of showing what they have learned and accessing the highest possible grades.

In Upper 3 we concentrate on the geography of the UK; in Lower 4 the work is set in the context of those countries along the Greenwich Meridian, mostly in Africa; and in Upper 4 the year is divided between physical hazards, such as hurricanes and an in depth look at Australia.

The Geography Department is happy to deal with any problems which may arise and lunchtime appointments are made with students on an individual basis.

Workshops, conferences and visits

An obvious attraction of the subject is the opportunity to travel and many field trips are available to the students. We regularly go to Malham, the Lake District and various local settlements to carry out investigations. In 2010 a group of girls will be going on an exciting tour of the Bay of Naples, organised in conjunction with the Classics Department.

Degree and career choices

As concern about the environment and sustainability has increased, Geography is highly valued by both universities and employers. Past pupils have gone on to study a wide range of courses at university, from town planning to meteorology, but Geography has also been a strong supporting subject for girls studying other subjects such as medicine or law.

At Bradford Girls' Grammar School girls are well prepared for the demands of any university and we in the Geography department have had students progress to many prestigious establishments, including Oxbridge.