“Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future” - Michael Palin
Curriculum Intent
Our intent as a Geography Department is to inspire lifelong learners with a sense of place and a deep curiosity for the wider world, who will grow into responsible, compassionate global citizens. We want our learners to become inquisitive, curious and open-minded students. Our students will be mindful of their place in the world and develop their understanding of contemporary challenges including climate change, migration and global development, leading to a strong sense of global responsibility. They will learn about other cultures, people and their environment. Throughout their time in Geography students will gain an understanding of how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate; and how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems.
KS3 Curriculum
Throughout KS3 our pupils will develop knowledge and understanding spanning Human, Physical and Environmental aspects of our planet. Our aim is to develop new skills within each topic and consolidate each year’s knowledge looking at how topics are linked together. Students will study these physical and human topics in their local context, as well as at national and global scales, increasing their global understanding. There will be opportunities for local field trips in KS3.
During KS3 our students will:
- Be encouraged to think like Geographers, assessing issues form both temporal and spatial scales.
- Deepen their understanding of human, physical and environmental geography
- Develop their knowledge of how human, physical and environmental processes interact
- Analyse and interpret data from a range of graphs and maps, developing numeracy skills
- Develop their English language through reading a variety of resources and apply specific geographic terminology in their writing.
- Develop their map skills
- Develop critical thinking skills
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Year 7 |
Year 8 |
Year 9 |
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Geography Matters Rives, Flooding and Glaciers Population, Migration and Settlement Ecosystems |
Weather and Climate Global Governance and Global Responsibility Coastal Landscapes Global Development |
Natural Hazards Population and the Environment Urban and Rural Challenges |
KS4 Curriculum
Year 10
In Year 10 we follow the EDUCAS A 9 – 1 GCSE Geography course with students examining the human and physical world around them. This includes looking at a wide range of issues and concepts related to physical landscapes and processes, rural to urban links and coastal hazards. Students will also study the wider world, looking at weather, climate and ecosystems, global trade and social development. Students participate in fieldwork investigating both human and physical features at a nearby location.
Exam Structure
Component 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes
- Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 35% of qualification
- Section A: Core Themes Two structured, data response questions assessing Core Theme 1 (Landscapes and Physical Processes) and Core Theme 2 (Rural-urban Links). Some questions will require extended responses.
- Section B: Options One structured question (from a choice of two) assessing either Theme 3 (Tectonic Landscapes and Hazards) or Theme 4 (Coastal Hazards and their Management).
- These themes provide additional breadth of study for the content assessed in the core themes.
Component 2: Environmental and Development Issues
- Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
- 35% of qualification
- Section A: Core Themes Two structured, data response questions assessing Core Theme 5 (Weather, Climate and Ecosystems) and Core Theme 6 (Development and Resource Issues). Some questions will require extended responses.
- Section B: Options One structured question (from a choice of two) assessing either Theme 7 (Social Development Issues) or Theme 8 (Environmental Challenges).
- These themes provide additional depth of study for the content assessed in the core themes.
Component 3: Applied Fieldwork Enquiry
- Written examination 1 hour 30 minutes
- 30% of qualification
- A written examination in three parts using a variety of structured data response questions, some of which will require extended responses.
- Part A will assess approaches to fieldwork methodology, representation and analysis.
- Part B will assess how fieldwork enquiry may be used to investigate geography's conceptual frameworks.
- Part C will assess the application of broad geographical concepts to a wider UK context and assess the ability to make
Year 11
In Year 11 we follow the AQA 9-1 GCSE Geography course with students examining the human and physical world around them. This includes looking at a wide range of issues related to the challenge of natural hazards, the living world, UK physical landscapes, urban issues and challenges, the changing economic world and the challenge of resource management. Students also participate in fieldwork investigating both human and physical features at places along the North-East coast.
Exam Structure
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Paper 1: Living with the physical environment |
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What's assessed 3.1.1 The challenge of natural hazards, 3.1.2 The living world, 3.1.3 Physical landscapes in the UK, 3.4 Geographical skills |
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How it's assessed
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Questions
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Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment |
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What's assessed 3.2.1 Urban issues and challenges, 3.2.2 The changing economic world, 3.2.3 The challenge of resource management, 3.4 Geographical skills |
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How it's assessed
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Questions
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Paper 3: Geographical applications |
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What's assessed 3.3.1 Issue evaluation, 3.3.2 Fieldwork, 3.4 Geographical skills |
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How it's assessed
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Questions
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Progression
Many of the students who enjoyed studying GCSE Geography have gone on to study A Level Geography. Geography is a robust academic subject rich in skills, knowledge and understanding. It will assist with many other A Level courses such as Law, Psychology, environmental sciences and many more. If post-16 is not for you, employers will value the Geography GCSE qualification as it encourages analytical, evaluative and transferable skills.
Future Careers
Employers will value the Geography GCSE qualification as it encourages analytical, evaluative and transferable skills. Future areas of careers include education, law, politics, environmentalists, geologists, the civil service, tourism, transport, town planners and the police – among many, many more!