IB Environmental Science

Applications Open - 12 November 2025

Applications Close - 12 April 2026

Entry Requirements - All entry requirements can be found in our course directory here.

How to Apply - To apply for Post-16 at Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy, please follow the link to Applicca, our admissions registration form: https://sgla.applicaa.com/inyear

Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course, encompassing both the sciences and individuals and societies. It combines a mixture of methodologies, techniques and knowledge associated with both the sciences and individuals and societies.

The course engages students in the challenges of 21st century environmental issues. Consequently, it requires its students to develop a diverse set of skills, knowledge and understanding from different disciplines. Students develop a scientific approach through explorations of environmental systems. They also acquire understandings and methods from individuals and societies subjects whilst studying sustainability issues within social, cultural, economic, political, and ethical contexts. The interdisciplinary nature of the course means students produce a synthesis of understanding from the various topics studied. It also emphasises the ability to perform research and investigations and to participate in philosophical, ethical, and pragmatic discussions of the issues involved from the local through to the global level.

Environmental Science aims to empower and equip students to:

develop understanding of their own environmental impact, in the broader context of the impact of humanity on the Earth and its biosphere

develop knowledge of diverse perspectives to address issues of sustainability

engage and evaluate the tensions around environmental issues using critical thinking

develop a systems approach that provides a holistic lens for the exploration of environmental issues

be inspired to engage in environmental issues across local and global contexts.

External

Paper 1: Students will be provided with data in a variety of forms relating to a specific, previously unseen case study. Questions will be based on the analysis and evaluation of the data in the case study. All questions are compulsory.

Paper 2: Section A is made up of short-answer and data-based questions. Section B requires students to answer structured essay questions.

Internal

The individual investigation is an open-ended task in which the student gathers and analyses data to answer their own formulated research question. The outcome of the Individual investigation will be assessed through the form of a written report. The maximum overall word count for the report is 3,000 words.

5+ GCSEs at grades 9-4

Grade 5 in mathematics

Grade 5-5 in combined science or 5s in Biology and Chemistry / Physics