Geography (CIE)

We study Geography in order to better understand our world. Geographers do not simply ask the questions why, who or what; Geographers also investigate the relationships between the physical and human parts of our earth and ask: how come?  This discipline takes the best bits from all subjects and studies their interactions across our globe.

“Geography is the key, the crucial accident of birth. A piece of protein could be a snail, a sea lion, or a systems analyst, but it had to start somewhere. This is not science; it is merely metaphor. And the landscape in which the protein "starts" shapes its end as surely as bowls shape water."

 Annie Dillard

Geography literally means “to describe the world”.  This is just the start of what our discipline does; it pushes beyond description to examine and analyse all aspects of our planet.  It has inspired multiple related specialisms such as geology, meteorology, oceanography, sociology, cultural studies and many more. From understanding weather to settlement patterns, earthquakes to volcanoes, mastery of our world and its systems, both human and physical, relies upon our ability to collect data, analyse its implications, and evaluate them effectively.

Students at HWSF will be following the Cambridge International A Level, allowing them to take a global view of the discipline of Geography, moving beyond the limits of our national geography and examining the contexts and varietals which occur across the globe.  Balanced evenly between the physical and human aspects of the discipline, there is something of interest for every geographer. Classwork is supplemented with a residential trip to embed learning, each year students participate in a field studies expedition to the Gower Peninsula where they examine Swansea, the Gower, and explore the river Ilston from source to sea.

Please click here for further information on our Geography Curriculum.