Geography

Geography helps us to understand our ever-changing world and how it can impact on people, both locally and internationally. Geography is a subject that goes beyond the realms of O/S map skills and capital cities!

A broad range of topics are covered, across all Key Stages, covering a balance of human, physical and environmental Geography and utilising a wide range of transferable skills – from problem solving and team work to data handling and map interpretation. We make sure that the units covered are relevant to students, their experiences and the issues they may be exposed to in the world outside of school.

Curriculum

Geography covers a wide range of exciting and dynamic human and physical topics, including Development, Population, Earthquakes and Volcanoes and Rainforests.

In Year 7, we set the foundation, covering a range of skills that are the foundation to the rest of the Key Stage (sowing the seeds for Key Stage 4 and 5 too).

We also emphasise Environmental Geographies and sustainability, especially when studying Climate Change, Coral Reefs, Antarctica and our use of Plastics, but also as a theme running through all topics.

Throughout Years 7-9 we develop important geographical skills, such as analysing photos, using Ordnance Survey maps and interpreting different sources. This helps to build literacy and numeracy skills, as well as preparing students for study at GCSE. Usually, we have a lovely range of school trips throughout Key Stage 3, such as to Cheddar Gorge, opening children’s eyes to the importance of geography in the real world and beyond the classroom.

At GCSE, we have opted to cover the AQA GCSE Geography specification due to its balanced and engaging content. There is an equal balance of both Human and Physical Geography, with sustainability running, as a strand, through all units. The GCSE Geography course requires that students take part in two days of fieldwork, where we experience the practical application of the theory covered within the classroom and apply data collection skills in the field – we currently visit Dawlish Warren and Bristol.

There are three exams all taken at the end of year 11 (one based around Physical Geography, one based on Human Geography and the third focusing on fieldwork skills and issues evaluation).

We encourage students to be inquisitive and enquiring learners – analysis and evaluation are essential skills within the subject. We keep a balance of human and physical topics over the two years, starting with resources and UK landscapes due to their accessibility and opportunity to introduce skills that we will continue to develop throughout future units.

We have opted to follow the AQA AS and A Level syllabus so that students are given flexibility – they can either sit the AS qualification or continue on to the full A Level qualification.

We look at water and carbon cycles; coastal systems; hazards; global systems and governance; changing places; and population and the environment. These units offer a good balance of facets within the subject whilst being accessible and relevant to the students.

Fieldwork (including independently planned fieldwork for A Level) is an essential element, providing you with the opportunity to see your environment in action, enrich learning and enhance understanding of the units covered in class. It also enables students to develop lateral thinking and problem-solving skills as a team, abilities that are much desired by universities and in the workplace.

Traditionally, we visit Chesil Beach; study ‘place creation’ in Bourton-on-the-Water and offer a residential trip to Wales.

Throughout all of our Key Stages, there are core skills that run through our units that we build upon and develop. However, we also build and scaffold opportunities for them to explore, apply and evaluate the topics and issues covered. Units encourage students to be inquisitive, curious and evaluative – academic excellence is a by-product of this.

Numeracy and literacy are threads that can be found throughout our curriculum, from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5. The ability to analyse and evaluate are integral to Geography. In terms of data handling, interpretation and manipulation, this again is essential if we are to be able to substantiate our arguments!

In Year 9, students follow an applied numeracy programme where we apply a range of mathematical skills to Geographical contexts – this is followed by all Year 9 students. We also offer a core skills programme for a selected group of Y9 students helping to further develop literacy and numeracy levels.

Careers and Study Progression

Geography students have some of the highest rates of graduate employment. Geography combines well with Sciences, as well as with Sociology and Psychology. There are careers in sectors as diverse as catastrophe planning and crisis management; HR and financial services; environmental law; sustainability; environmental planning; waste management; and weather forecasting

Geography, being the study of the world around us, means the subject is multifaceted and synoptically links well both with other academic disciplines; numeracy, literacy, awareness of environmental challenges that we face such as climate change, plastics in our oceans, growth of population and the resource implications this poses.

We explore these issues with students, helping them not only to discover them but also empower themselves with ways that they can address/rise to these challenges.

Approaches to Learning and Assessment

Our approach to assessment is that it should be as multifaceted as the subject itself. We have built regular opportunities, within our schemes; it is a process that, we believe, students should engage with if it is to be fully effective in helping to support pupil progress.

We use self/peer assessment via book/file checks, online quiz homework tasks. We encourage students to be reflective learners and to build/develop on prior learning. RAG reviews at mid and end of units at GCSE (end of units at Key Stage 3)

At the end of units, students will complete an assessment to help gauge their level of understanding. At Key Stage 3, this takes a range of formats, decision making exercises such as ‘Should we build a Quarry in Bourton on the Water?’, coral reef group work assessments (with an individually assessed evaluation task) and more traditional tests.

At GCSE and A Level, we make sure that assessment is multifaceted. Students review their own understanding via RAG sheets and carry out file reviews. We also carry out small retrieval tasks within lessons such as our ‘Geog your memory’ tasks. This is supported by staff feedback and tests, based on AQA past papers, preparing students for their external assessments. Students are expected to engage with feedback and use this to help them to reach their potential as autonomous learners as well as Geographers!

Supporting Individual Students

We run a Geography confidence boost programme with Key Stage 3 – run by Geog ambassadors. It’s a 3 week scheme designed to go over key elements being covered in lessons to boost the confidence of students identified by the department.

We ensure that materials are always available to students. For example, a range of materials shared on Satchel, including a range of revision resources, exam style questions, knowledge organisers.

We also run revision sessions for both Key Stage 4 and 5 in the lead up to mock exams and their final exams and provide focused support via 1:1 sessions that students can book in for or be asked to attend.

We respond to identified needs and tailor lesson resources to meet these specific needs to the best of our abilities.

Staff are thoughtful in their planning but also in aspects such as seating plans, making sure that students are given every opportunity to meet their potential.

How do you stretch and challenge all?

We challenge our Geographers with wider reading which is shared regularly with a ‘read, write, research’ approach. We also recommend podcasts and suggestions for research on current affairs from around the globe.

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

The Green Group runs once per week and Eco-Council once a month, which are both huge parts of our school’s push to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly. We run a range of trips, the biggest being our expedition to Iceland every other year. We also take all of Year 7 to Cheddar Gorge during Enrichment Week.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Map 

(click the links below for more information)

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
Year 7  Our Island Home 

Mapping Mayhem

Rocks and Landscapes 

Urban and Issues

South America
Year 8 Development  Climate Change and Coral Reefs

Antarctica

Plastic Fantastic

Flooding

Year 9 Tectonics Population Coastal Landscapes in the UK