Why do we learn geography?
Geography empowers you to make sense of the world, beyond where you live. This is very important in a world that is constantly changing. If you want to mould and shape the future, you must understand your place in the world as it is.
Doing Geography is incredibly stimulating and enriching because you discover a range of landscapes, ecosystems, cultures, people, and places. This enables you build an understanding of the diversity and beauty of life on earth, the connections between things and the issues we face.
Where could Geography take me in the future?
Geographers are highly valued at university because they are investigating key issues facing people in different places. Famous Oxford University geographer Danny Dorling has argued that Geography in the 21st century is about three things: globalisation, inequality, and sustainability. Each of these three areas affects every person in the world, directly or indirectly, in different ways. The decision-makers of the future are geographers!
Head of Department
Dylan Robinson
Assessment Details
GCSE Exam Board: AQA
There are three different exam papers completed towards the end of Year 11. These are:
- Living with the physical environment
- Challenges in the human environment
- Geographical Applications and Skills
Year 7 - Geography
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| Where am I? Geography and me | Our Planet – What is planet earth? |
|
What does it mean to be a geographer? |
What is planet earth? What is underneath earth’s surface? Why is water so important to earth? What makes a country a country? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| How and why do we trade? | What are the biomes of the world? |
| What resources do we trade? Why do we trade? What is the relationship between globalisation and trading? What are the impacts of trade in low income and high income countries? |
What are biomes? How are biomes distributed? Where are tropical rainforests? Why are some species endangered on tropical islands? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| What are the fantastic landscapes of the UK? | Why are coasts controversial? How has London Changed? |
| Relief maps Tectonics Geology Glaciers |
Coastal processes |
All Year 7 Subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Religious Education
Year 8 - Geography
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| River Rivals – whys is there conflict on the Nile? | Food and Famine – Why do some countries eat more than others? |
| River processes. River landforms. Nile case study. |
Food scarcity and food plenty. Physical and human factors affecting food security. Large scale-farming impacts. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Endless Energy – What is energy insecurity and how do we solve it? | Climate Change – how does climate change affect different people in different places? |
| Sources of energy. Factors affecting energy security. Energy management. |
Natural and human causes of climate change. Risks and opportunities associated with climate change. Mitigation and adaptation to changing climates in different places. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Polar Environments – Why are polar environments important? | The Middle East – A regional study |
| Polar ecosystems + processes. Polar landforms. Polar politics + conflicts. |
Physical Geography of the Middle East |
All Year 8 Subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Religious Education
Year 9 - Geography
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| What is happening in our oceans? (Global Oceans – tectonics and processes) | Who controls ocean trade and resources? (Ocean biomes and governance) |
| Plate tectonics and the formation of island arcs Ocean processes Carbon sinks and climate change Mapping Oceans using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) |
Marine ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs, open ocean and salt marshes) Coral reefs and coral polyps Threats to reefs and environmental neglect Geopolitics and managing oceans |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| What is the global economy? | What are some countries so much richer than others? (Development Disparity) |
| Industrialisation in the USA China’s economic shift Theories of globalisation Transnational corporations and their impacts Evaluating globalisation |
Underdevelopment and its characteristics Causes of underdevelopment Tracking India’s development journey Wealth and poverty in high income countries (HICs) |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| What are glaciers and how do they form (Glacial Landforms and Processes) | Independent Project – My UK Region |
| Processes creating glaciers Examples of glaciers and OS Map Skills Periglacial environments in the Russia Arctic |
Pupils conduct an independent investigation that explains the physical and human geography of their region |
All Year 9 Subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Religious Education
Year 10 - Geography
At Key Stage 4, students will delve more deeply into topics already studied (tectonics, population growth, climate change, global ecosystems) but will also cover new topics (globalisation, resource management, tropical rainforests, and deforestation). You also get the chance to study how places like Rio de Janeiro are faced with several opportunities and problems in their local, national, and global context.
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| The Challenge of Natural Hazards | The Living World |
|
Understanding and managing risks from natural hazards including geological and atmospheric hazards Causes and impacts of climate change as well as adaptation and mitigation strategies |
Understanding the diversity of natural ecosystems globally and the opportunities and challenges they provide for humans who interact with them (focus: tropical rainforests and hot deserts) |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| Urban Issues | Human Fieldwork |
| Understanding the opportunities and challenges of living in large megacities including Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and London | Human fieldwork to involve investigation into opportunities and challenges of living in a particular area in London |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Physical Landscapes: Coasts | Physical Landscapes: Rivers |
| Coastal processes, landforms and management issues |
River processes, landforms and management issues |
All Year 10 Subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Religious Education
Year 11
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Finish Rivers (see Y10) |
Physical Fieldwork
Resource Management |
|
There are global variations in wealth across many countries and we will explore models for understanding this, how to close these gaps and the impacts of global inequality. |
We will complete our Rivers Fieldwork for Paper 3 (Skills and Fieldwork). |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
Revision |
Paper 3 Preparation and Revision |
|
Structured revision sessions for all three Geography Papers |
Paper 3 Preparation – there will be an ‘issue evaluation’ released 8 weeks before the assessment. We will understand the geographical issue being introduced – and think about how this could be assessed in Paper 3. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| Revision Focus | |
|
Revision tailored to specific outcomes in Mock 2 & to individual pupil needs |
|
All Year 11 Subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Religious Education