Geology is the subject of the future and the Eduqas A Level course sets students up for a career in this field excellently. During the course students will build knowledge upon concepts covered in GCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths, as well as aspects of Physical Geography. We have a plethora of equipment and specimens in the department that will ‘bring Geology to life’; students can expect regular practical experiments and fieldwork as part of the course to develop the necessary skills to become a successful Geologist. The Geology department has a track record of success at A Level which has helped many students gain the University place of their choice as well as securing job and apprenticeship opportunities.
There are many careers in Geology due to the growing shortage of raw resources and energy. Geologists play a vital role in discovering and developing renewable energies, which is why there are ample opportunities, here and abroad, to become involved in jobs such as uranium mining and nuclear hazard consultancy. Geology is playing a key role in environmental issues including the management of floodplains, land reclamation and the siting of commercial, residential and industrial properties. Many students who take A Level Geology enjoy the subject so much that they go on to study it and related courses at university. A quote from a headline in a daily newspaper reads: “Want that top-paying job? Take a degree in Geology”. Daily Mail 26.09.16.
A Level Geology students will enjoy a week-long residential at the Lochranza Field Centre on the Isle of Arran in November of Y13, as well as a variety of other fieldwork opportunities such as a day in Castleton, a visit to the National Stone Centre, and a trip to the Natural History Museum, London. In class, students can expect regular practical experiment opportunities to enhance their understanding of how the world works.
5 GCSE grades at 9 – 5 including a 5/5 in Combined Science or 3 5s in singles Sciences.
The first year of the course has been designed to provide a solid foundational understanding of key concepts in Geology. Topics taught in Y12 include: minerals and rocks, fossils and geological time, planetary geology and earth’s structure, plate tectonics, volcanoes, geological mapping, and interpreting past environments.
The second year of the course aims to build on the foundational knowledge provided in Y12. Topics taught in Y13 include: structural geology, applied sedimentology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, exploration for key resources, geohazard risk analysis, geological mapping, applied mining and engineering geology, climate change over time, mass extinctions (including dinosaurs), and Quaternary geology.
The Examination Board for this course is Eduqas.