"Alone in space, alone in its life-supporting systems, powered by inconceivable energies, mediating them to us through the most delicate adjustments, wayward, unlikely, unpredictable, but nourishing, enlivening, and enriching in the largest degree - is this not a precious home for all of us? Does it not deserve all the inventiveness and courage and generosity of which we are capable to preserve it from degradation and destruction and, by doing so, to secure our own survival?"

                                                                 Barbara Ward and René Dubos

The most topical subject on the planet?

Environmental Studies draws upon and complements many subject areas, including geology, geography, economics, politics and sociology.  Environmental Studies will equip you with a range of skills that will help you in any walk of life.  You will learn about: collecting, analysing and evaluating information; managing numerical data; team work; clear communication of ideas; and defining key issues and identifying possible solutions.

It will give you a new perspective on issues that are increasingly seen as the most important affecting and perhaps endangering our lives. You will investigate how the choices we have made have caused these problems and how we might resolve them. Environmental Studies is exciting and dynamic. It will help you understand today, and the options we have for tomorrow.

Topic areas and key questions.

The Living Environment

- What life support systems does life on Planet Earth need?

- How do human beings threaten wildlife with our appetites for electronic goods, the latest trainers and eating meat? Why should we care?

- How do we resolve competition for land between rubbish dumps, housing, food production, conservation and leisure facilities?

The Physical Environment

- How can we deal with climate change by changing our lifestyles?

- Why is it that if we compare the entire world's water supply to one gallon, only 2 drops of it is available to us to drink?

- Why should we be grateful to plants?

Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution

- The end of the Age of Oil: How long will oil last?

- Why is it that we in richer countries consume as much energy in 6 months as typical citizens of poorer countries will consume in their entire lives?

- Is renewable energy really 'clean' energy?

- Can recycling rescue us from burial under our own waste?

Biological Resources and Sustainability

- Why are the lives of worlds poorest threatened with starvation whilst those of the world's richest are threatened with obesity, diabetes and heart disease?

- How does modern farming threaten water supplies, cause desertification and contribute to global climate change?

- Is it possible to have economic growth, care for the environment and social justice?

As part of your A2 course, you will attend a residential field course to fulfil the course practical skills requirements.

Use of ICT is an important element of the course. Multi-media learning resources will help to enhance your understanding of topics. You will also be guided to the most up to date Internet resources for your individual research. Some examples are below:

Carbon in your body has been recycled over millions of years. You might contain an atom that once belonged to a dinosaur! This game explores how carbon moves through the living and non-living world.

Visit Recycle City (formerly Dumptown)

Career Paths

Your interest in the environment and ethical issues could take you along a number of career paths.  For example, ecology, wildlife conservation, or climatology. Maybe you would like to work for a charity, teach, enter politics, or use your A Level in Environmental Studies as the stepping-stone to higher education or a degree in environmental science. 

To study Environmental Studies at A-level, a pass at GCSE is not essential. The main requirement is an interest and enthusiasm to learn about the natural world around you.

Mike Johnson

Head of Environmental Studies