A-Level Geography at The Queen’s School Sixth Form

The Geography Department offers students the opportunity to broaden their learning beyond the classroom through two exciting biannual trips: one to Naples and one to Iceland. These experiences allow students to explore key geographical concepts in real-world settings. In Naples, students study volcanic landscapes, coastal processes, and urban development, while in Iceland they witness dramatic glacial environments, geothermal energy sites, and tectonic activity. Both trips provide hands-on fieldwork opportunities, deepen understanding of physical and human geography, and create unforgettable experiences that bring the subject to life.

Many Geography students actively participate in Model United Nations (MUN) conferences, engaging in debates on global issues such as human rights, sustainable development, and international cooperation. This experience helps them develop strong communication, negotiation, and critical thinking skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the political and social dimensions of geography. By representing different countries and perspectives, students learn to analyze complex global challenges and propose realistic solutions—skills that are invaluable for both academic success and future careers.

The department also support Geography students in entering the Royal Geographical Society’s annual essay competition, which challenges them to explore contemporary geographical issues in depth. This prestigious competition helps students develop advanced research and writing skills, while fostering critical thinking on topics such as climate change, global inequality, and sustainable development.

Paper 1 focuses on Landscape Systems and the main topics covered are Coasts and the Carbon and Water Cycles. Students will develop an understanding of how coastal landscapes can be viewed as systems, the key coastal processes and landforms, and how human activities are influencing coastlines. The rainforest and the Arctic tundra will be studied to learn about the carbon and water cycles operating in these locations, how humans are impacting on these regions and how we can manage them. This component is 22% of the A-level.

Paper 2 focuses on Human Interactions and the main topics covered are Changing Spaces; Making Places, Global Migration and Human Rights. This gives students the opportunity to explore social inequality within the UK and the wider world, the change in urban areas such as Birmingham, the reasons for migration and its impacts, the issues surrounding women’s rights worldwide and the strategies for global governance of human rights. This component is 22% of the A-level.

Paper 3 focuses on Geographical debates. The two topics studied are Disease Dilemmas and Hazardous Earth. Students consider the different factors which contribute to communicable and non-communicable diseases and which strategies can be used to manage them most effectively. In the hazards topic earthquakes and volcanoes are studied to learn about the impacts of these types of events and appropriate management strategies. This component is 36% of the A-level.

As part of the A-level geography course you will also complete an independent investigation on a topic of your choice. This is worth 20% of the A-level.
Fieldwork is an integral part of the geography curriculum allowing pupils to see in reality what they have learnt in the classroom, build teamwork skills and learn valuable data-collection techniques.

In Year 12, one fieldwork day takes students to Liverpool to study rebranding, and a second fieldwork day takes students to North Wales to study coastal landforms and coastal processes. In Year 13, time is spent conducting two days of independent fieldwork on a topic of your choice in a location of your choice.

The A-level Geography course is challenging. It’s advisable that you have a minimum of a level 6 (B grade) at GCSE, although candidates who have not studied the subject at GCSE level can still consider Geography at A-level. High levels of literacy are essential for this course.