Content
The course builds on the foundations of Common Entrance and covers aspects of both the physical and human world. The physical course includes major Earth Science themes — rocks, weathering, erosion, folding, faulting, vulcanicity and earthquakes. This is designed to cover the Science National Curriculum — Earth Science component. It also reflects the content requirements of the Geography National Curriculum. The human course covers farming and resources in different world regions and investigates the relationship between man and his environment.

The topics are taught in a practical way with an emphasis on personal research using the geography department intranet and website to investigate current geographical issues, news and events.

Fieldwork and Skills
Field trips are organised to demonstrate both physical and human geography in the local region and further afield. Pupils develop the skills of field observation, sketching, recording and analysis.

Computer skills are applied, where appropriate; e.g. word-processed projects and field trip accounts, graphics, data analysis, CD-ROM and web research, simulations and other software teaching packages.

The future
By the end of the Shell year pupils should have gained a confident understanding of physical and human geography as a sound basis for the GCSE course in the Remove and Fifth Year.