Cambridge Pre-U Geography:The Way Forward?

Peter Price

Geographical Association Annual Conference and Exhibition

Manchester University, 13 April 2012

Peter Price

• HOD Charterhouse • Teaching Pre-U since 2009• CGeog• Member GA ISSIG and Post-16/HE Committees• Speaking in a personal capacity, not for CIE or my

school• Apologies from intended co-presenter, Claire

Sladden, Pre-U Chief Examiner

Aims for this Lecture:• Introduce the Pre-U syllabus • Offer some reflections from the points of view of a

teacher and an assessor• Provide the opportunity to ask questions and

discuss classroom implications• Reflect on the near-future of Post-16 courses

• Pre-16 and post-16 almost entirely linear• Ethos aiming to maximise learning time and

minimise examination disruption• Geography Department traditionally offered OCR

GCE and OCR C GCSE• Pre-16: Edexcel IGCSE; majority of subjects offer

IGCSE• Post-16: majority offer Pre-U (only 3 offer A Level)• Since September 2011, Charterhouse also offers

IBDP

The Charterhouse Curriculum

A flexible qualification

• Cambridge Pre-U Certificate– 28 subject syllabuses and core

• Cambridge Pre-U Diploma– Builds on subject strength– Freedom of subject choice– Core components

• Global Perspectives Portfolio • Individual Research Report

Syllabus characteristics• Linearity

– Avoids fragmentation– Reclaims teaching time– No component retakes

• Authentic ‘stretch and challenge’– This aim informed syllabus development– Genuine synopticity– Greater discrimination at the top end (addition of D1)

• Future of GCE?– Why not choose a genuine linear/synoptic syllabus?

Cambridge Pre-U Diploma

PrincipalSubject

PrincipalSubject

PrincipalSubject

Global Perspectives

Independent Research Report

Optional Short Course,Additional Principal Subjects

Global Perspectives and Research

Completely free choice of subjects

Guarantees breadth

Opportunities for greater depth

Stand alone learning pathways

Supporting progression to university

UCAS TariffCambridge Pre-U

Band

Cambridge Pre-U

Grade

Cambridge Pre-U

Principal Subject Tariff

A Level Equivalent

Grade

A Level Equivalent

Tariff

Cambridge Pre-U

GPR

Tariff

Cambridge Pre-U

Short Course

Tariff

Distinction D1 tbc n/a n/a tbc tbc

D2 145 (A*) 140 tbc

D3 130 A 120 126 60

Merit M1 115 112 53

M2 101 98 46

M3 87 84 39

Pass P1 73 70 32

P2 59 56 26

P3 46 E 40 42 20

• The core concern of the subject is the interaction of people with the environment

• The importance of maintaining a clear and strong physical geography component

• Flexibility, opening up choices for teachers, to reflect the interests and resources of Geography departments

• The introduction of some new topics and of new angles on others

• More opportunities for extended writing (essays)• The need to develop enquiry skills

Principles underlying the Geography syllabus

Syllabus content: 1 Geographical Issues

Section A (choose 2)• Tectonic Hazards• Hazardous Weather• Hydrological Hazards

Section B (choose 2)• The Geography of Crime• Health and Disease• Spatial Inequality and

Poverty

Section C (synoptic; minimal teaching)

• Multiple hazards and issues

Syllabus content: 2 Global Environments

Section A (choose 1)• Arid and Semi-Arid

Environments• Glacial and Periglacial

Environments• Coastal Environments

Section B (choose 1)• Tropical Environments• Temperate Grassland and

Forest Environments• The Atmospheric

Environment

Syllabus content: 3 Global Themes

Section A (choose 1)• Migration and Urban Change• Trade, Debt and Aid• The World of Work

Section B (choose 1)• Energy and Mineral Resources• The Provision of Food• Tourism Spaces

Paper 4 Research Topic

One of three prescribed topics each year for a research investigation involving fieldwork.

For examination in 2012 the topics are:

Microclimates

Conservation

Deprivation

Topics for examination in 2013–15 are published on CIE’s Teacher Support Site.

Assessment

Assessment Objectives

AO1show knowledge and understanding of the places, concepts, processes and principles of the syllabus content

AO2

select and use appropriate skills and techniques (including the use of fieldwork and information technology) to investigate questions and issues and communicate findings

AO3analyse and evaluate geographical information, issues and viewpoints; apply understanding in unfamiliar contexts; draw conclusions from evidence presented

Assessment

• The Cambridge Pre-U Certificate in Geography is assessed through four compulsory components.

• The assessment is linear and takes place at the end of the 2 year course. A single grade is awarded for the qualification.

• Marking is genuinely holistic, “intelligent” and not constrained by an over-prescriptive MS

Scheme of Assessment

Core Geographical Skills

Candidates should be competent in the use of written skills and the use and interpretation of: • maps• graphic techniques• photographic resources, including aerial photographs

and satellite images• sketch maps and diagrams• information from secondary sources, including GIS

Paper 1: Geographical Issues

• The paper is divided into 3 sections• Candidates answer 5 questions, choosing in

Section A 2 structured questions from 3

Section B 2 structured questions from 3

Section C 1 extended writing question from 3

Paper 2: Global Environments

• Paper divided into 2 sections, with 3 topics in each

• 2 questions are set on each of the topics

• Candidates answer 2 questions; 1 from each section

Paper 3: Global Themes

• Paper divided into 2 sections, with 3 topics in each • 2 questions are set on each of the topics• Candidates answer 2 questions; 1 from each section

Paper 4: Research Topic

There are three prescribed topics, from which schools or candidates select one. Topics cycle every few years.

For examination in 2012 the topics are:

o Microclimateso Conservationo Deprivation

Programme of study from CharterhouseSequence Physical Human

1 Coastal Environments Spatial Inequality and Poverty

2 The Atmospheric Environment Health and Disease

  Year 12 end of year examinations

3 Climatic Hazards Trade, Debt and Aid

  Year 13 Mocks

4 Hydrological Hazards The Provision of Food

- Paper 4 fieldwork and research throughout 2 & 3 (Microclimates)

5 Revision (extended) Revision (extended)

CIE Support•Essential materials online (syllabus, specimen papers and Teacher Guide)•Past examination material, including interim papers•Small, so personal contacts with CIE (excellent access to Chief Examiner and Product Manager) and other departments teaching Pre-U •No “tied” textbooks – blessing or curse?

Pre-U: Support

A teacher’s reflections on Pre-U: The Way Forward?

•In-built linearity is liberating•Academic liberation of open-ended content v more prescribed GCE content•Challenging contemporary content (for teachers and pupils)•I read more in 2 years’ preparation for Pre-U than in the past 14 years of A Level teaching (and continue to do so)•Bridging the gap to HE?•Evolving – get involved in shaping the qualification (accredited up to 2015, so opportunity to review from Sept.2014 – in line with GCE review)•BUT•Linearity in a modular curriculum•Resourcing?•Recognition (UCAS and beyond?); case of IB

Future of GCE?

• School leaving age rising to 18• New/heavily revised Specs from Sept.2014• End of modules?• Restriction/abolition of module re-sits?• To “more strongly reflect the progression to Higher Education”• Greater involvement of HEIs “at both the design stage and the ‘wash-up’ or post exam review stage” of assessment (to “give universities ‘power’ over A levels”) – who/how?• Move to more ‘rigorous’ (traditional?) assessment – essays?• Sound familiar?• So....• Why not choose a tried and tested, genuinely linear/synoptic syllabus?

Contacts

CIE Product Manager, Tim Kendrick-Jones

kendrick-jones.t@cie.org.uk

Chief Examiner, Claire Sladden, via CIE

www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/uppersec/pre-u

School Cluster Group: Peter Price (HOD, Charterhouse)

pp@charterhouse.org.uk