Geography

At Key Stage 3, students are given the opportunity to embrace a mixture of human and physical topics, so that they develop a well-rounded, holistic understanding of the world around them. Students get the opportunity to develop numerous transferable skills such as:

• Personalised independent learning
• Communication skills
• Evaluative skills through making decisions on complex global issues
• Interpersonal skills through debate and discussion
• Literacy, Numeracy and problem-solving skills

Topics Studied:

Year 7

• Where I live
• Weather and Climate
• India
• Extreme Environments
• Map Skills

Year 8

• Brazil
• Sustainable Living
• Africa
• Earthquakes and Volcanoes

Year 9

• Development
• Our Living World
• UK Landscapes
• Urban Environments
• Geographical Application of Skills
• The Middle East

How are pupils assessed?

Students are assessed at the end of each topic. Their progress is monitored so that we can ensure that we support them in their areas of difficulty. Lessons are planned to be engaging and challenging, encouraging students to become increasingly confident and reflective learners. The knowledge and skills acquired at KS3 provide students with the foundation needed to excel at GCSE Geography.

Our expectations: 

Geography is a dynamic subject that is constantly changing. Therefore, it is important that pupils supplement their learning by keeping up to date with current affairs and global developments. This might involve watching the news, documentaries or surfing the net and using websites such as BBC Bitesize. Time spent doing these things will enable students to gain a thorough understanding of the subject, and will allow them to become critical thinkers.

The Geography GCSE course enables pupils to learn about national and international issues, and stretches them to evaluate the various solutions to these problems. Through the course, pupils explore issues of development. For example, pupils learn how development is measured using development indicators, how the human and physical characteristics  of countries differ based on the stage of development the country is in, why countries are at different stages of development, and the strategies that have been put in place to reduce the development gap. Through the course pupils also develop environmental knowledge, by studying the formation of various landforms, and the characteristics of different biomes and ecosystems.

Geography allows students to:

• Actively engage in the process of geography to develop as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds.
• Develop their knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts and appreciate the relevance of these concepts to our changing world.
• Develop a framework of spatial awareness in which to appreciate the importance of the location of places and environments from local to global.
• Understand the significance of values and attitudes to the development and resolution of issues.
• Develop their responsibility as global citizens and recognise how they can contribute to a future that is sustainable and inclusive.
• Develop and apply their learning to the real world through fieldwork and other out of classroom learning.

Summary of Assessment

Unit 1: Living with the physical environment

Written Examinations

Topics:

• The Challenge of Natural Hazards
• The Living World
• UK Landscapes, Coasts and Rivers

Paper 1:   1.30 mins, 88 marks (35%)

Unit 2: Challenges in the human environment

• Written examination

Topics:

• Urban issues and Challenges
• The Changing Economic World
• The Challenge of Resource Management

Paper 2: 1 hour 30 mins, 88 marks (35 %)

Unit 3: Geographical applications

Paper 3: 1 hour 15 mins, 76 marks (30%)

• Issue evaluation
• Fieldwork

Career Value:

Students can go onto studying various fields at university which are either directly or indirectly linked to geography. Geography also provides you with an insight into a range of practical, social, economic and environmental issues. In addition to core geographic skills, for example field work and the use of specialist field equipment, preparing maps and diagrams, and using social survey and interpretative methods, you also develop a range of key skills that are relevant to many jobs and sectors. Jobs include:

• Cartographer
• Commercial/residential surveyor
• Environmental consultant
• Geographical information systems officer
• Planning and development surveyor
• Secondary school teacher
• Town planner

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 32% grades 9-4.

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 53% grades 9-4.

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 52% grades 9-4.

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving 60% grades 9-4.

Students are expected to attend intervention lessons during lunchtimes and after school to aid them with reaching their potential target. These sessions are very important as they provide intense mentoring; therefore your support is very much appreciated.

Geography club

Every Tuesday lunchtime- A great opportunity to explore the magical world of geography.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/

http://www.kids.nationalgeographic.com