Geography OLD

Staff

Mr S Thaper (Head of Geography)

Mr D Bird (Assistant Headteacher)

Mr A Sanders (Teacher of Geography)

Miss E Morgan (Teacher of Geography)

Course Calendar

Please click here to view the Course Calendar.

Geography at Key Stage Three

The Department of Geography delivers a modern and balanced approach to the study of Geography at KS3. This course has been written specifically to prepare students for AQA GCSE Geography using a holistic approach. It delivers important foundation content and includes a variety of skill-based activities. The resources introduce students  to key geographical terms and exam command words commonly used at GCSE.

Year 7 (The Geography of the United Kingdom)

1. Introduction to the UK

2. Physical landscapes in the UK

3. Weather and climate in the UK

4. The people of the UK

5. Work, rest and play in the UK

6. Challenges and opportunities in the UK

Year 8 (The Geography of the Wider World)

7. Our physical world

8. Our living world

9. Our unequal world

10. Focus on Africa

11. World cities

12. World issues

This table shows how the course introduces Key Stage Three students to topics that they will study in greater depth and detail at GCSE:

Geography at GCSE

Students will begin their GCSE studies during the autumn term of Year 9. They can opt to continue their studies through the options process.

Paper 1 (35% of GCSE) – Living with the Physical Environment

Section A – The challenge of natural Hazards

• Natural Hazards-Tectonic Hazards, Tropical storms,Extreme weather in the UK, Climate Change

Section B – Physical Landscapes in the UK

• Physical landscapes in the UK – Coastal Landsapes and River landscapes

Section C – The Living World

• Ecosystems – Tropical Rainforests, Hot Deserts

Paper 2 (35% of GCSE) – Challenges In the Human Environment

Section A – Urban Issues and Challenges

• Urbanisation
• Opportunities and challenges of urban growth in MEDCs and LEDCs
• Urban change in UK cities
• Sustainability in cities

Section B – The Changing Economic World

• What are the global inequalities
• How can the development gap be narrowed

Section C – The challenge of resource management

• Resource management
• Water

Paper 3 (30% of GCSE) – Geographical Applications

Section A – Issue evaluation

This will be taught in lessons throughout the other units of work. There is a pre release booklet for this exam 12 weeks before the exam. It will focus on all topics studied.

Section B – Fieldwork

Assesses geographical skills and fieldwork. Fieldwork will take place in June 2017.

Geographical Skills

Support for embedding a deep understanding of geographical skills is integrated throughout. Skills activities gradually build confidence in skills that are vital for study at GCSE.

Issue Evaluation –

Students are asked to evaluate and make judgements on UK and global issues throughout the course. There is a specific focus on the skill of issue evaluation in Chapter 5 Work, rest and play in the UK on whether or not Heathrow should have a third runway.

Skills Focus –

Dedicated Skills Focus units provide extended practice on particular skills that students often find challenging.

Fieldwork

Students are provided with compulsory fieldwork opportunities which are essential to ensure that they develop the skills and are can engage further with their learning. Please see the table below for the opportunities we currently offer:

*Fieldwork Destinations are subject to change.

Learning Experiences

The Department of Geography currently offers learning experiences, both international and domestics; ranging from Year 7 trips to Italy to Year 10 trips to the Natural History Museum. We are always looking to venture further out!

Sixth Form

Why Geography?

It’s a unique subject, because it acts as a bridge between the humanities and the sciences. This can be an advantage if you want to be flexible when considering your options for higher education or careers.

AS GEOGRAPHY AQA

Who is the course for?

The course is for students, who have successfully achieved grade B, or higher, at GCSE Geography or equivalent courses and who have an interest in studying Geography to a higher level.  Geography is a unique subject, as it acts as a bridge between the Humanities and Science and may readily be studied with either.

What will I learn? 

You will learn key ideas about Physical Geography and Human Geography and develop a range of Geographical skills.  You will develop your Personal Learning and Thinking skills through activities such as researching topics, managing your workload and presenting reports to the rest of the group.

What Units will I study?

AS Unit 1: Physical Geography and people and the environment

Glacial Landscapes and Hazards

AS Unit 2: Human Geography and Geography fieldwork investigation

Changing Places and Geographical Skills

How will I learn?

You will learn in smaller and more informal groups than at GCSE and you will be expected to play an active role in your learning.  You will learn through accessing a wide range of sources such as the school and public libraries, the Internet, television programmes and newspaper sources.  The Geography Review, a magazine aimed at Sixth Formers is available to subscribe to and is a valuable read.  It will be essential for you to develop your ICT skills in order to access these resources and to process fieldwork data.  You will be expected to attend a Sixth Form conference at Birmingham University and will have the opportunity to attend lectures on current topics. You will also be expected to attend two residential fieldwork trips – a two day trip to Snowdonia and a four day trip to either the Lake District or Devon (time and money)

How will I be assessed? 

Formative assessment during the course will occur informally in class, through your class work and homework and through topic tests.

Summative assessment is by external exams:

AS Unit 1: A one and a half hour exam consisting of multiple choice and short answers (50 %)

AS Unit 2: A one and a half hour exam consisting of multiple choice and short answers (50 %)

How can I progress with this qualification?

Students who achieve a grade ‘D’ or better can progress to A2 Geography

Is there any other information I need to know?

A grade ‘B’ or better at GCSE Geography is required for entry onto this course.  Alternatively for students who have not studied Geography an average point score of 6 or greater is required.

A2 GEOGRAPHY AQA

Who is the course for?

The course is for students who have successfully achieved grade ‘D’ or better in their AS-Level course and who have an interest in pursuing the subject further

What will I learn? 

You will continue to develop the Geographical skills you encountered in the AS-Level course and will consider a number of contemporary geographical issues such as physical (plate tectonics) and human (world cities) options.  Current issues you may study include globalisation, out of town shopping and climate change.  The fieldwork will be a key aspect of your learning in this course.

What Units will I study?

A2 Unit 1: Physical Geography

Glaciated landscapes, Hazrds and Water and carbon cycle

A2 Unit 2: Human Geography.

Changing places, Global systems and global governance and Contemporary         Urban environments

A2 Unit 3: Geographical Investigation

How will I learn? 

You will continue to learn through similar methodologies to the AS-level course.  However  written tasks and exam questions will be more challenging to allow access to the new A* grade and you will be expected to engage in more independent learning to prepare you for university education.   The fieldwork is an essential aspect of the learning for this course. You will attend a four day residential to either the Lake District or Devon.

How will I be assessed? 

Formative assessment during the course will occur informally in class, through your class work and homework and through topic tests.

Summative assessment will occur through:

Unit 1: A two hour 30 mins exam (40 %).more structured questions

Unit 2: A two hour and 30 mins exam (40%) more structured questions

Unit 3: A 3000-4000 word fieldwork investigation (20 %).

How can I progress with this qualification?

A geographer studying Maths or Physics would be well qualified for Environmental Sciences.  You could go on to study Geography at university, but courses or careers in areas such as planning, surveying GIS and cartography are also possibilities, as well as growth areas such as tourism or environmental management.

Is there any other information I need to know?

A grade ‘D’ at AS-level in this subject is required to progress from the AS-level to the A-level

Other Opportunities

Some examples of how the department seeks to enrich the classroom study of Geography: .

• Students are encouraged to carry out their own research investigations and fieldwork. In Year 7, day visits are arranged as part of the Opening Minds programme. Year 8 students carry out fieldwork in Dovedale, the Peak District. At GCSE students attend a residential fieldwork to complete their geographical Investigation and there is a two day residential fieldwork visit to Snowdonia and a residential field week to Devon in the Sixth Form.