5 GCSEs at 4-9 to include English, Maths and a Science.
Environmental Science – A Level
Environmental Science is the study of how the environment supports us and how our way of life threatens these support systems. Through studying this course, you will develop your awareness of environmental and sustainability issues regarding both the physical and living environment. Studying this course will enable you to develop transferable skills such as critical thinking, data collection and analysis, highly sought after by universities and employers.
Environmental Science is a holistic subject with many interconnected systems and processes. A change to one process can affect many other processes over different spatial and temporal scales. The focus of the course is to therefore develop an enthusiasm for and competence in environmental science by using contemporary real-world contexts, from a range of specified spatial scales, and through engagement with and practical application of scientific skills and techniques in the field. Consideration of environmental issues and the conclusions reached should be based on reliable evidence-based information and quantitative data. By studying this course, you will examine how human society relies upon natural systems for resources and life support systems. An understanding of these systems will be used to propose changes in society that would produce more sustainable lifestyles.
We have a flourishing Study+ offer at Andover. For enrichment you could join the environmental science/geography club where you can watch subject specific documentaries and discuss the issues highlighted in them. You could join the college Green Group as a student representative to help influence the sustainability of the college. We also have regular speakers from university, take groups on trips to fieldwork, participate in local conservation projects, visit universities for taster days and, you will also have the opportunity to visit both Iceland and the Azores to help enrich your classroom learning.
In the first year of your studies:
The Living Environment: You will start the course by studying the conditions for life on Earth and how the presence of life on Earth brought about change. Methods of conservation, planning and monitoring as well as habitat conservation including the study of vulnerable biomes. How humans influence biodiversity in terms of destructive effects including the methods of protecting biodiversity. You will have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular conservation activities to further enhance your classroom learning.
The Physical Environment: You will study the main components that make up the physical world and provide the conditions that enable life to survive on Earth. The topics include: the atmosphere, hydrosphere, soils, biogeochemical cycles and lithosphere. You will study the atmosphere, how it works and how we monitor it. Including its dynamic nature, carbon footprints and ozone depletion. Water resources, how humans influence the water cycle and how we maintain sustainable supplies. Mineral resources, how they form, how we find them, and the issues associated with their extraction as well as how to protect the environment from the impact of extraction. The carbon, phosphorous and nitrogen cycles, our influence on them and how we can exploit them sustainably. Soils, the importance of them, how they form, how we make them vulnerable and how we can protect them.
Research methods and scientific methodologies: You will apply investigative methods in environmental science to sample habitats, record quantitative and comparative data, and measure abiotic and biotic factors in various ecosystems. You will conduct fieldwork studies of population density, species frequency, biodiversity and soil analysis. You will gain an understanding of new techniques such as radio tracking, tagging and ringing of mobile populations, and using satellite data and DNA as well as monitoring of indirect evidence such as owl pellets, nests, droppings tracks and trails.
In your second year of study, you will examine a range of real-world examples that enable you to apply your first year knowledge to understand the impacts they have on the environment and what can be done to mitigate this:
Pollution: The properties of pollutants, how environmental factors affect the dispersion and severity of pollution, and the strategies to control pollutants. We will study pollutants such as greenhouse gases, hydrocarbons, pesticides, nutrients and heavy metals, noise and radiation, as well as many more secondary pollutants.
Energy resources: The importance of energy supply in the development of society, the impact of their features in their use. You will study the sustainability of our current resources and the strategies to secure our future, using renewable and non-renewable resources. We will also look at new ways to conserve energy in the domestic and industrial setting.
Agriculture: methods of intensive and non-intensive farming including pest control, increases in yield and environmental impacts. Along with the social and political factors involved. You will also have the opportunity to visit our sister agricultural college at Sparsholt.
Fishing and aquaculture: Aquatic food production, fisheries and marine productivity. The impact of humans on fish populations and exploring the concept of maximum sustainable yield. You will also have the opportunity to visit our sister agricultural college at Sparsholt.
Forest resources: Exploring the relationship between productivity and biodiversity as well as the impacts exploitation is having on the environment and how this will affect future supplies.
Sustainability: This section looks at the dynamic nature of our Earth and how positive and negative feedback mechanisms affect the rate of change in our environment. Here you will examine energy, material cycles and the circular economy and is interwoven throughout the course.
Students undertaking A Level Environmental Science are expected to take part in the planned field trip / visits programme, this is an applied field science and as such cannot be taught solely in the classroom. The course has a strong emphasis on developing the students’ knowledge and understanding of fieldwork, so it is very important that students take part fully in this side of the course. The skills gained in the field will be assessed as part of the written examinations.
Discussion, debate, practical work and analysis are at the forefront of the skills that students of Environmental Science require. You will be given structured and non-structured research and research skill tasks to complete both in class and for independent study. In addition, there will be ample opportunity to conduct fieldwork and utilise GIS techniques throughout the course. Homework is set regularly, and the expectation is that students will engage with this as part of their overall study programme. To further enhance your subject knowledge, you will also be expected to read around your subject. You will also have the opportunity throughout the course to visit and use the state of the art facilities at our sister college in Sparsholt.
Trips include:
· Residential trip to Dorset
· Voluntary work at local sites.
· Marwell Zoo conservation conference
· University of Portsmouth and University of Southampton taster days
· Iceland (Optional)
· The Azores (optional
You will sit 2 exams at the end of Year 2. Each exam is weighted at 50% and will contain a combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions. Paper 1 assesses your understanding of the physical environment, energy resources, and pollution. Paper 2 assesses the living environment, biological resources and sustainability. At least 15% of the marks for the qualification will come from the assessment of fieldwork skills and research methods.
An A-Level in Environmental Science is an extremely useful investment. Not only is it very well regarded by admissions tutors at universities, but employers value candidates who possess the skills of communication, analysis and team-work which are developed through study of this subject.
Students who complete their course go on to study a variety of degree courses such as the Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation degree offered at Sparsholt College, Environmental Science, Marine
Biology and various Earth Sciences. Alternatively, you could go on to apprenticeship programs, for example at Hinkley Point, the Environment Agency, the Meteorological Office or a local authority.
Popular career areas include, climate science, meteorology, earth sciences including geology and environmental science, hydrology, environmental consultancy and occupational hygiene, sustainability or teaching.
You will go on a number of field trips and excursions including:
Marwell Zoo Wildlife conferences
Natural History Museum Trip
Hurst Castle Spit trip
Sparsholt College: conservation and fisheries facilities
Local conservation work with Test Valley Borough Council and Andover Trees United
Local ecological survey work
Visit to a local analytical laboratory
Visits by Climate and Water Scientists
We use a wide range of digital resources to compliment in-class learning. Students can access e-copies of a wide range textbooks and geographical publications through the library and revision and teaching resources are shared through the college intranet systems.
Students are required to purchase physical copies of the course textbook to read and study and use in class throughout the course which is approximately £25. Students will also be required to attend a mandatory residential field trip to Dorset.