Getting to grips with OCR Geography qualifications

1. Getting to grips with OCR Geography qualifications Subject Specialists: Abi Carter Mark Smith Shelley Monk

2. Geography Subject Specialists Mark Smith Over 6 years at OCR in various roles Studied Physical Geography at Portsmouth University Shelley Monk Former Head of Geography at a UK and British International School Studied Geography at Royal Holloway , London Abi Carter Former Head of Geography, Birchwood High School Studied Geography at University of Hertfordshire

3. OCR Geography Vision Geographers Engaging and topical Comprehensive package of quality support materials Genuine choice of exciting qualifications KS3 KS4 KS5 Independent learners Decision makers Clear route of progression Team players Critical thinkers Confident in the use of practical skills

4. Developed by teachers for teachers • Teacher consultation • Student consultation • Dynamic developers • Consultation with the Geographic community including employers, Subject Associations and Higher Education • Cambridge Assessment research

5. A Level Geography 300 marks 6 hours /360 minutes

6. Specification snippets; the Core Earths Life support: Impacts of oil and gas industry on water and carbon cycles Carbon and water cycles, how they operate, globally over time and space. Arctic tundra and tropical rainforest case studies Migration patterns and how conflict and persecution have increased the number of refugees Global connections: How the geography of gender inequality is complex and contested Landscape systems: How landscapes can be viewed as a system and how they evolve over time Changing spaces making places: How representations of place differ through contrasting media How and why places are rebranded and the relative success of this

8. AS Geography 150 marks 3.5 hours /210 minutes

9. What are my choices?

10. Specification snippets: Geographical Debates Disease dilemmas: Can disease ever be fully eradicated? Climate change: How should humans respond to climate change? Hazardous Earth: What measures are available to help people living in tectonically active zones? Exploring Oceans: How do oceans present hazardous obstacles to human activity ? The future of food: How & why patterns of food security vary within and between countries.

11. Geographical Debates • Five topics to choose from • Dynamic and contemporary issues to engage students • Deep understanding of chosen topics • Enquiry approach • Concepts of inequality, mitigation, adaptation, sustainability, risk, resilience and threshold.

12. Investigative Geography (NEA) • 20% of A Level assessment weighting • Total of 60 marks • Recommended length 3,000 - 4,000 • Independent investigation linked to any area of the specification • The fieldwork which forms the focus and context of the individual investigation may be either human, physical or integrated physical-human • Student defines a question or issue for investigation. • Primary and secondary data collection

13. New AOs and fieldwork - reflection

14. Sample Assessment Materials Design & structure of papers • Marks increase through questions • Careful choice of command terms AS V A Level • Clear content links • Fieldwork questions at AS, logical route through fieldwork and opportunities for candidates to show their subject knowledge

15. Sample Assessment Materials Mark scheme • Clarity of AO wording across all level marked questions. • Examples of where marks can be awarded • Detailed indicative content – broken down by question style highlighting knowledge and understanding or analysis and evaluation

16. Geographical skills

17. Fieldwork skills AS level (H081) • Fieldwork skills will be assessed within Landscape and Place • Fieldwork is required to be undertaken for at least 2 days including both human and physical geography A Level (H481) • Assessment of fieldwork skills will be within Investigative geography component • Fieldwork is required to be undertaken for at least 4 days including both human and physical geography

18. What’s staying the same and what’s changing?

19. How are we supporting you?Geography@ocr.org.uk Mark Smith Abi Carter @OCR_Geography School visits Geography Journey Teaching and learning resources Shelley Monk

20. Free first teach events available to book on the OCR CPD hub now

21. A range of CPD events available to book on the OCR CPD hub now.

22. Editable and flexible resources • Already on the website:. • UK in the 21st Centaury delivery guide • Does sea ice matter? Activity • Why is development uneven? • Environmental threats to our planet delivery guide • What is the UK’s Geographic diversity? • Who are the UK’s trading partners? • More to follow • Constantly updated for the lifetime of the specification

23. A comprehensive package of support

24. Publishing Partners - Hodder

25. In summary • New qualifications developed by teachers for teachers, with learners at the centre • Clear, explicit content allowing for flexible delivery • Fewer case studies, clearly outlined and contemporary • Wide range of CPD opportunities • Teaching and learning materials available and in development • Subject Specialists to support you and your schools • Collaboration and partnership with Hodder

26. Please send your feedback or any queries to our team of Geography Subject Specialists: Geography@ocr.org.uk Follow us on twitter: @OCR_Geography