- Around the world – pupils begin with an introduction to the characteristics of the world’s continents and the skills an outstanding geographer will develop.
- Map skills – the use of OS maps and atlases. We specifically look at developing compass skills, using scales and grid references and interpreting contour lines and map symbols.
- Ethical geographies – an exploration of the ethical and moral debates in development geography in the context of the geography of food.
Geography
Geography is a fascinating and varied subject which helps pupils to understand more about the world in which they live. It develops a number of different skills including describing and analysing data, map skills and encouraging attitudes and views. Our aim is to promote a love of geography, both human and physical. All pupils study geography in Years 7 and 8, after which it becomes an optional subject.
Year 7
Year 8
- Ecosystems – understanding the location and characteristics of the earth’s main ecosystems; focusing ultimately on rainforests and our dependence and impacts on them.
- Fire – investigating plate tectonics and the distribution, impacts and management of volcanic hazards.
- National Parks and tourism – exploring the characteristics of the UK’s National Parks and the positive and negative impacts of tourism on them.
Year 9
- Global challenges –pupils will gain an appreciation of what the concept of development involves, the differing ways of measuring it globally and an appreciation of the complexities of using different indicators of development. Pupils will then investigate the causes for the global development gap before evaluating strategies to manage it.
- River Environments – pupils will gain an understanding of the characteristics and landforms of rivers from their source to mouth. They will consider different erosional, transportation and deposition processes. Pupils will then consider the distribution of water on the planet and the hydrological cycle before learning about the human activity that uses water and attempts to manage the provision of clean water. We will then consider the management of river flooding.
GCSE
Pupils will follow the Edexcel iGCSE, specification.
So many of the world's current issues, at a global scale and locally, are related to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them. Global warming and its effects on countries and regions, water and energy security, the degradation of land and soils from over-use and misuse, the spread of disease, the causes and consequences of migration, and the impacts of economic change on places and communities. These are just some of the challenges facing the next generation, which geographers must help solve.
GCSE geography is an exciting subject which explores these significant issues. It is a subject which will provide you with a comprehensive skill set to engage with a range of contemporary geographical issues. These skills include analysing data, explaining geographical theories, evaluating different issues through decision making, thinking critically and considering different viewpoints and opinions. It is one of the few subjects which combine the skills of both the arts and the sciences in interpretation and analysis.
Paper 1: Physical Geography
Topic 1: River Environments
Topic 2: Coastal Environments
Topic 3: Investigating Coastal Environments
Paper 2: Human Geography
Topic 4: Economic Activity and Energy
Topic 5: Urban Environments
Topic 6: Investigating Urban Environments
Topic 7: Development and Human Welfare
Scheme of assessment
Paper 1: 1 hour 10 40% of GCSE
Paper 2: 1 hour 45 60% of GCSE