Geography
The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected.
It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places from the personal to the global. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 scheme of work lays the foundations for creating confident, competent geographers. It focusses on developing knowledge and understanding, building vocabulary and supporting the development of key geographical skills, using topical relevant content which helps to spark a passion for geography. The curriculum focusses on building the key skills and understanding that students need to have a broad knowledge of the world, whether finishing their studies at KS3 or continuing to GCSE. The course dovetails into the AQA GCSE specification, building confidence with dealing with concepts and ideas required at KS3, meaning that students will be able to progress.
Year 7
- Introduction to the UK
- Physical Landscapes of the UK
- Aspects of Weather and Climate
- The People of the UK
Year 8
- Work, Rest, and Play in the UK
- Challenges and Opportunities in the UK
- Our Physical World
- Our Living World
Year 9
- Our Unequal World
- Focus on Africa
- World Cities
- Global Issues
At KS3 pupils receive 3 lessons of Geography every 2 weeks.
When homework is set it is to be completed and handed in the next day. This may be worksheet or textbook based or involve internet research.
Assessments will be done in lessons either through tests or assessed work and in the timetabled yearly exams.
Pupil targets will be set using the Cat 4 test results taken in year 7.
Pupils may find extra information for revision purposes by using KS3 geography bitesize.
KS3 Assessment Grid
Key Stage 4
GCSE Geography
AQA Geography Specification A (8035)
At GCSE we follow the AQA specification A (8035). This qualification is linear. Linear means that pupils will sit all their exams at the end of the course.
The subject content is split into four units:
3.1 Living with the physical environment
3.2 Challenges in the human environment
3.3 Geographical applications
3.4 Geographical skills
- Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment - 35% - 1hr 30min
- Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment - 35% - 1hr 30min
- Paper 3: Geographical Applications - 30% - 1hr 15min
Pupils will receive five 1 hour lessons and 2 pieces of homework over a two-week timetable. During the course, pupils will sit mid and end of unit tests on each topic in order to assess progress. They will also sit a past paper on Paper 1 for their Year 10 exam and paper 1 and 2 for their Year 11 mock exam.
Further Study
Geography is not only up-to-date and relevant, it is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world’s current problems boil down to geography and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them.
Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the spread of disease, the reasons for migration and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers.
Choosing geography at school can open the doors to a university degree, either specifically in geography or in a variety of other subjects. An A-Level in geography is recognised for its academic ‘robustness’ and, most importantly, it also helps young people into the world of work.
Employers prize the knowledge and skills that studying geography can provide, be it knowing how the world works, planning research and report writing, working in a team, using new technologies and communication skills – and much more.
You will find geographers working in a wide range of jobs, from the city to planning, working in the environment to travel and tourism, retail or in international charities.