Field-course options for GCE A-levels, tailored for the Edexcel specification:
Level |
Unit |
Topic |
Fieldwork |
A/S |
1 Global Challenges |
World at Risk |
A CASE STUDY OF THE RIVER WYE – The impact and management of flooding |
BLAINA LANDSLIP – A study of the causes, characteristics and human response to the landslip at Blaina | |||
2 Geographical Investigations |
Extreme Weather |
A CASE STUDY OF THE RIVER WYE – The impact and management of flooding | |
Crowded Coasts |
HUMAN IMPACT AND MANAGEMENT OF KENFIG NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE (sand dunes) | ||
REGENERATION IN CARDIFF BAY – Considering the environmental costs and economic benefits of the Cardiff Bay barrage, including visits to Mermaid Quay, the Cardiff Bay Barrage and compensatory nature reserve | |||
COASTAL EROSION AND MANAGEMENT – A study into coastal processes and landforms on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, assessing current management and investigating alternatives, contrasting that with defences at Aberthaw power station | |||
Unequal Spaces |
URBAN INEQUALITY IN CARDIFF – A comparative study of inner city, (includes studentification), suburban and urban-rural fringe areas, looking at residential quality, environmental quality and other socio-economic indicators | ||
RURAL INEQUALITY – Investigating the differences between declining and growing villages covering the themes of second homes, counter-urbanisation, decline in rural services and changes to the rural economy | |||
Rebranding Places |
BLAENAFON HERITAGE TOURISM – This day explores the role of tourism as the driving force for regeneration of the economy and environment of the town, including a visit to the award winning Big Pit Mining Museum and other tourist venues (all museums are free to enter) | ||
REBRANDING CARDIFF BAY – An evaluation of the success of the regeneration scheme, considering social, economic and environmental implications | |||
REBRANDING STRATEGIES IN THE BRECON BEACONS– Investigating the range of stakeholders and strategies at work in the National Park: choose from a range of optional venues (including Talgarth –featured in BBC’s ‘Village SOS’ -see summary document) | |||
A2[1] |
4 Geographical Research |
Cold Environments |
GLACIATION STUDY – A visit to the Brecon Beacons to sketch and/or map a range of erosional and depositional landforms including cirques, arêtes, pyramidal peaks, U-shaped valleys and different types of moraine |
Leisure & Tourism |
CONSUMING THE RURAL LANDSCAPE – An exploration of the range of uses of the rural landscape, investigating their impacts and sustainability, focusing on the tourism industry |
[1] Other possibilities relating to the Contested Planet Unit could also be developed if required (e.g. energy security)