Reading around your subject canalises a meandering intellect. The Mason (Geography Department) Library contains a wide range of interesting, contemporary titles which will support your understanding of geographical issues and the many potential futures awaiting our society and environment. These will be discussed and reviewed in the Geography Society meetings and "sofa society" reading group.

On Monday 12th March Cheltenham College Geography Department hosted the Geographical Association for a regional IGCSE revision seminar. The intensive half day course consolidated the content covered thus far and really focussed the students on how to do themselves justice in only the second examined year of the rigorous Edexcel IGCSE. Four separate sessions were led by experienced examiners and Heads of Department from fellow Rugby Group schools.

On Tuesday 20th March the staff of the Geography Department hosted the U6th geographers in Common Room for the inaugural Geography Leavers' Dinner. The meal concluded with a speech from the students sharing some previously undiscovered  highlights from their five years as College geographers before prizes were awarded to Ollie Bond, Sophie Leader, Will Frome and Lydia Day for their performance in the Upper College. The meal was accompanied by a soundtrack of geographically themed tunes (som...

On Wednesday 22nd February the Geography Film Club spent the evening watching the critically acclaimed, BAFTA nominated film Shooting Dogs. This deeply moving drama retells the tragic events that took place at L'Ecole Technique Officielle during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. After the film there was much discussion with the group that ranged from 4th Form to U6th students.

On Wednesday 8th February a number of Upper College Geography and Music students and staff attended the Scott Centenary Concert at Cheltenham Town Hall. The trip was combined with Cheltenham Ladies College and the concert featured music by Vaughan Williams with narration by Ben Fogle and a projection of photos of the Scott Expedition. The enjoyable evening encouraged intellectual and creative curiosity while strengthening the bonds between current College pupils and their historical association ...

On Friday 3rd February 30 members of the Geography Society were treated to a fascinating lecture entitled “The Impacts of the Rise of China” by John Bryson, Professor of Entreprise and Economic Geography at Birmingham University’s School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences. The select group of students included Upper College geographers considering reading Geography or a related degree at university and the top 5th Form who had been recommended by staff for their passion and performan...

Earthquake-landslide disasters Mr Rob Parker Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience University of Durham As the Earth’s population continues to grow, more and more people are living in areas prone to hazards. Often striking without warning in unexpected locations, earthquakesproduce some of the most devastating natural disasters. 2011 already holds the record for the highest level of economic losses due to natural perils for any year throughout history.

Wednesday 8th November was an exciting evening for Upper College Geographers; it was debate night. That night myself and eleven other pupils from the Lower Sixth took part in the debate. We were presenting a variety of motions along with a round of grilling questions from the audience as we debated some of the current energy issues.

The Upper College Geography Society were very pleased to host British Schools Exploring Society (BSES) Chief Arctic Leader Dr Trevor Clarke, who is a veteran of 5 arctic expeditions to Svalbard and Northern Norway and a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Royal Geographical Society Young Geographer of the Year Competition Theme: What should all good geographers understand? Your task is to demonstrate that you grasp what all good geographers should understand by representing this in a visual or diagrammatic way.