Altrincham Grammar School For Boys

Geology Department

 

What is Geology?

Geology is an applied branch of science that uses physical, chemical and biological principles to explain the structure, evolution and dynamics of the Earth. Like all sciences, Geology draws extensively on the skills of observation, imagination and the synthesis of collected information and ideas.

Aspects of geology will have been studied indirectly by all students in year 10 and 11 as part of GCSE seporate and dual award science courses (e.g. seismic wave, plate tectonics, and evolution). This clearly illustrates that geology is a multidisciplinary science and hence, geology is an appropriate choice to make if you enjoy science.

Most students that take the subject, therefore, are following other science-based AS levels, and the subject also
attracts students who enjoy the physical aspects of geography.

Geology will be studied for five hours per week and will usually be taught in N8, a laboratory specially designed for undertaking geological practicals. Geology is taught solely by Dr K. Stephen.

Why Study Geology

Being an applied science, Geology has many applications to human activities. Our modern society cannot exist without resources explored for, and exploited by, geologists; notable examples being oil, gas, coal, water, building materials and metals. Geologists are also involved in hazard prediction, i.e., earthquake, volcano and landslide forecasting. In major civil engineering projects, Geologists are required to investigate the ground foundations, and a major recent growth area for Geologists is in environmental projects.

The Course

The AS specification comprises the basic components of Geology and includes:

Minerals
Rocks (Igneous, Metamorphic and Igneous)
Palaeontology (Fossils)
Stratigraphy
Structural Geology and Geological Maps
Plate Tectonics

These are studied together with a module investigating the importance of geology in influencing man's existence, namely: earthquake, volcanic and landslide hazards together with engineering geology and waste disposal.

The A2 specification affords an opportunity to study further the basic components of the AS specification together with two out of three geological themes:

Plate Tectonics
Quaternary Geology
Resource Geology

An important part of the A2 course is the completion of two pieces of coursework.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an integral part of the Geology course. In the Lower Sixth a residential course is
held in the Lake District . In the Upper Sixth there is a week long residential course, held in Cyprus, supplemented by a series of occasional days to various local sites.

Staff

Geology is taught solely by Dr K Stephen. Unsurprisingly therefore, he is also the Head of Department!

Brief Résumé

B.Sc (1 st Class Hons) Geology, Portsmouth University.
M.Sc (Distinction) Petroleum Geology, Aberdeen University.
Ph.D Geology & Geophysics, Edinburgh University.
PGCE (Secondary Science Education), Bath University.
FGS (Fellow of the Geological Society).
FRAS (Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society).
C.Geol (Chartered Geologist).
C.Sci (Chartered Scientist).

Dr. Stephen (aka Doc Rock) teaches KS3 Science, GCSE Physics and GCE Physics and Geology. He has also taught KS3 Maths, KS3 IT, GCSE IT and GCE General Studies. He is an examiner for WJEC Geology specification and a member of the AQA KS3 SATS Test Review Group and Physical Sciences Advisory Committee. He is the AGSB ITT Co-ordinator and organiser for the Challenge of Enterprise and Nuffield Science Bursary Schemes.