Geography
Geography Curriculum Intent
Our curriculum vision is based around 4 major themes which equips students with the knowledge and understanding to prepare them for their futures as well as studying Geography at GCSE and beyond.
The aim of the Geography Department is to ensure that all students develop an appreciation of how people interact with the environment around them. In simple terms, Geography is the study of where places are, what they are like and what life is like in them.
Our aim in the Geography Department is to help to make students more aware of their global citizenship status. We investigate many issues facing the world today including coastal erosion, the loss of the tropical rainforests, Global warming, globalisation and migration and focus on how we can manage these issues sustainably. These issues, as well as traditional geography, are taught throughout the key stages.
The 4 major themes in our vision for students
- Knowledge and Understanding
- Geographical Skills
- Evaluation and Judgement
- Global Interactions
School Trips
A number of school visits are arranged throughout the course of the year. Details of trips which have taken place this year or are planned in the future can be viewed in the School Visits, Enrichment area of the website.
Facilities
- Specialist teaching classrooms
- A wide range of specialist fieldwork equipment
- Interactive materials to exemplify the topics being studied.
Useful Links
KS3 Geography
Years 7 and 8
Geography in Year 7 and 8 is taught for four periods a fortnight by specialist staff. The Year 7 Geography course begins to explore the concepts of place, scale and physical and human processes. These skills are developed further in Year 8 by introducing the concepts of cultural understanding and diversity as well as environmental interaction and sustainability and diversity.
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
|
World Geography |
Ecosystems |
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UK Geography |
Globalisation |
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Weather hazards |
Tectonic hazards |
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World resources |
River landscapes |
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Climate change and sustainability |
Urbanisation |
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Coastal landscapes |
Population Pressures |
What skills students develop
- Problem Solving
- Analysis skills
- Decision making
- Discussion skills
- Graphicacy and interpretation of data
- Map and Atlas skills
- Numeracy and literacy skills
How students are assessed
Each student completes three Geography Key Assessments a year, which assess the student’s knowledge and understanding and their geographical skills. Each student will gain a GCSE grade for each assessment, tracking their progress and evaluating the student’s strength in each unit. Each term students will complete a Tri-Weekly Assessment which is most often a knowledge test at the end of a topic. Work completed by students is self-assessed, peer assessed and teacher assessed throughout the year.
Homework
Students complete one homework task each fortnight. These are generally comprised of reading and analysing articles related to their current topic; watching and taking notes on key documentaries available online; and producing revision resources for upcoming assessments.
How parents can help
Ask questions about what your child has learnt in geography; what topics they are studying, interesting facts they have learnt, how the world is affected by people. Look out for geographical documentaries on TV and watch the news regularly. There have been some excellent series such as Tribe, Coast, Human Planet, Blue Planet, and Mega Cities, all of which would be of value to your child’s appreciation of the geographical world.
School Trips
Year 7 (Summer term) – Compulsory visit for the entire year group to study coastal processes and changing places in the coastal town of Eastbourne.
KS4 Geography GCSE
Board and Exam Details
AQA Geography GCSE
Link to Personal Learning Checklists
Course Outline
Geography is a very popular subject at KS4. Students can opt to continue their studies by following the AQA syllabus, which has a focus on the geographical processes that shape our world. Through studying Physical and Human Geography, students should develop a clear view of the world in the first part of the 21st century. Students will complete units in both Physical and Human Geography.
Living with the Physical Environment
- The challenge of natural hazards
- Physical landscapes in the UK
- The Living world
Challenges in the Human Environment
- Urban issues and challenges
- The changing economic world
- The challenge of resource management
Geographical Applications
- Fieldwork
- Geographical skills
What skills students develop
- Analytical skills
- Communication skills
- Graphical and cartographical skills
- Technological skills, including ICT and GIS
- Interpersonal skills through debate and discussion
- Literacy and numeracy
- Problem solving skills
- Independent learning
How students are assessed
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Exam (1.5 hrs) |
Living with the Physical Environment |
35% of the qualification |
|
Exam (1.5 hrs) |
Challenges in the Human Environment |
35% of the qualification |
|
Exam (1.5 hrs) |
Geographical Applications |
30% of the qualification |
Homework
Students receive homework once a week. This is designed to last up to an hour. The aim of homework at GCSE is to consolidate and further understanding of the concepts taught and discussed in lessons.
How parents can help
Ask questions about what students have learnt in geography; what topics they are studying; interesting facts they have learnt; and how the world is affected by people. Look out for geographical documentaries on TV. Encourage students to watch the news and to read a broadsheet newspaper; this will further develop their understanding of global geographical issues.
Extra-curricular Activities
Geography High Performers Club runs weekly.
School Trips
Year 9 – Trip to Kew Gardens in line with The Living World GCSE unit to develop a greater understanding of plant adaptations in Tropical Rainforest and Hot Desert environments.
Year 10 - Local Area Fieldwork to collect data for the third GCSE paper. Trips are made to the River Hosgmill and to Ewell Village.
