Geography

Studying geography at Key Stage 3 will excite and encourage all students to be curious about places, to gain a strong moral purpose and become mindful of their role in our ever-changing world. Students will be challenged through classroom enquiry and fieldwork to gain knowledge about how the human and physical worlds are interconnected for both their local environment and around the world.

Year 7

In Year 7 to introduce the exciting subject of geography by exploring what it means to be a geographer by building on KS2 content including understanding how we use the planet as a natural resource and explore the physical environment through a study of rivers and weather. Further studies into the country of Russia and the economy ensure that students enhance their knowledge of the geography of both locality and wider.

Year 8

In Year 8 to develop students understanding of the world, with a particular emphasis on the ethical debates around development, equality and demography. Also, to explore the dynamic hazards of earthquakes, volcanoes and coasts to appreciate both the physical creation and human impacts.

Year 9

In Year 9, students develop their geographical understanding with further locational studies on the continent of Africa and the region of the Middle East. These precede the final synoptic concept asking students to question the future of our planet.

Students follow the Edexcel A syllabus. The content includes:

1. The Physical Environment.

• The changing landscapes of the UK (rivers and coasts), Weather hazards and climate change, Ecosystems, biodiversity and management.

2. The Human Environment

• Changing cities, Global development and Water resource management.

3. Geographical investigations: Fieldwork and UK challenges.

Students follow the Edexcel A level syllabus

Fieldwork: A total of four days of fieldwork is carried out over the two years of study and this currently involves a residential fieldtrip.

Topics include:

Year 12:

• Coasts
• Tectonic processes
• Regenerating places
• Globalisation
• A geographical investigation

Year 13:

• Water cycle and water insecurity
• Carbon cycle and energy insecurity
• Migration, identity and sovereignty

Each year group is given the opportunity to study fieldwork skills:

• Year 7: A school environmental assessment and a microclimate study
• Year 8: Coastal fieldwork to Burnham-on-sea
• Year 9: Human fieldwork around sustainability and settlements (TBC)
• Year 10: GCSE coastal fieldwork to Lyme Regis
• Year 11: GCSE rural settlement fieldwork to Bourton on the Water
• Year 12/13: 4 days of fieldwork collection for the independent investigation component. This has previously been run as a residential

The Geography department also run a House challenge for Year 7 called the “Cloud competition”, a KS3 Eco-club launched in Sept 2022 and we run a Sixth Form Geographical film club.

The department has 3 teaching rooms including one computer room, all of which have projector and audio facilities. In lessons we use a combination of text books, worksheets, videos and activities designed to suit each class and the current topic.

For KS5 students they are given their own text book and encouraged to do independent further research. All pupils have access to a range of online and interactive learning facilities including Microsoft Teams quizzes, Quizlet, Bitesize and Seneca Learn.