Geography

Subject Overview

Our Geography programme is designed to inspire in students a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The curriculum aims to equip students with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Through their learning, students develop a range of geographical skills which prepare them for future study.

Key Stage 3 Programme of Study

Students study four topics per academic year at Key Stage Three, ensuring broad coverage of both physical and human geography. The curriculum is designed to prepare students for GCSE study.

Year 7:

· 7.1 – An introduction to geography

· 7.2 – The geography of Africa

· 7.3 – Weather and climate

· 7.4 – Global cities

Year 8:

· 8.1 – Extreme environments

· 8.2 – The geography of health

· 8.3 – Ecosystems

· 8.4 – The geography of Asia

Year 9:

· 9.1 – Natural hazards and wildfires

· 9.2 – Global inequality and development

· 9.3 – Natural resources

· 9.4 – Geographical issue evaluation

GCSE Programme of Study

At GCSE we follow the AQA specification, which offers a balanced framework of physical and human themes and investigates the links between them. Students will travel the world from their classroom, exploring case studies in the United Kingdom (UK), higher income countries (HICs), newly emerging economies (NEEs) and lower income countries (LICs). Topics of study include climate change, poverty, deprivation, global shifts in economic power and the challenge of sustainable resource use. Students are also encouraged to understand their role in society by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes.

Paper 1 (35%):

· Section A: The challenge of natural hazards

· Section B: The living world

· Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK

Paper 2 (35%):

· Section A: Urban issues and challenges

· Section B: The changing economic world

· Section C: The challenge of resource management

Paper 3 (30%):

· Section A: Issue evaluation

· Section B: Fieldwork

A-level Programme of Study

At A-level we follow the AQA specification, which is designed to challenge perceptions and stimulate investigative and analytical skills.

Paper 1 (40%):

· Section A: Water and carbon cycles

· Section B: Coastal systems and landscapes

· Section C: Hazards

Paper 2 (40%):

· Section A: Global systems and global governance

· Section B: Changing places

· Section C: Contemporary urban environments

Geography fieldwork investigation (20%):

Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content. It is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA.