KS4 Curriculum Intention
The specification covered for A’ Level environmental science follows the AQA Scheme of work. This specification covers all aspects of environmental science with a focus on a spiraling curriculum that revisits topics in different contexts. Environmental science is a rapidly developing area of study where many future jobs have yet to be created. Students are encouraged to consider local, national and global issues through a detailed understanding of problems and solutions. Case studies are used to bring topics to life and hands on learning is strongly encouraged through partnerships with ‘Ryevitalise’ (a subsidiary of the North York Moors National Park) and the ‘Yorkshire Marine Nature Partnership’.
KS4 Curriculum Knowledge Covered
The AQA specification is taught in the sequence that is recommended by the exam board. Students are explicitly reminded that the need for independent study is vastly more necessary than for GCSE. The specification leads to a large variety of post 18 degree courses and apprenticeships. Fieldwork and subsequent data analysis are key skills that mirror those needed for future scientific investigation in many different disciplines. Links to future employment are referred to as often as possible and students are strongly encouraged to consider employment with in the expanding environmental science sectors.
Mutually beneficial curriculum connections
- Geography and Environmental Science are both subjects where cross curriculum links embrace many different subjects.
- Maths is explored in many different formats particularly with reference to the presentation and manipulation of data sets.
- English is vital to the production of comprehensive, well written answers to questions. Marginalisation and urbanization are both covered as part of the English curriculum, and are revisited in geography.
- Human geography topics are relevant to both history and Personal development and students are strongly encouraged to empathise with those in poorer countries, or those that have suffered due to social, economic or environmental disasters.
- Science is explored in many different topics – such as electricity production, biomes throughout the globe.
- Engineering may be explored through the development of new technologies such as hydro-electric production and the rapidly developing area of wind power.
- Computer science is referred to in different contexts, particularly the growing quaternary sector of employment.
- Health and sociology topics underpin students understanding of hot topics such as water stress and health issues in different areas of the globe
