Geography

Geography helps us to understand the world that we live in.  We can discover how the forces of nature work (e.g. volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, the greenhouse effect) and how we as humans can try to cope as we live alongside them.  It also helps us to make sense of how people live, work and play in different parts of the world as they exploit, manage and move around the world (e.g. trade, development, industry, migration) in different ways and in different places.

By studying Geography, pupils become well rounded and thoughtful global citizens with an excellent understanding of the world and the way it works.

During Years 7-9 pupils study Geography for 2 hours per week. This increases to 5 hours per fortnight in Years 10-11 if pupils choose Geography as one of their option subjects.

In Years 7-8 pupils are introduced to a range of key physical and human geography themes that provide a basis for their geographical knowledge and understanding. In Year 9 all pupils start the GCSE Geography course and are given the choice to carry on with the full course in year 10 as part of the ‘options’ process.

 GCSE Geography subject content – AQA specification.

Physical Geography

Topics studied will include: Weather Hazards – Tectonic Hazards – Climate Change – Tropical Rainforests – Hot Deserts – Cold Environments – River Landscapes – Coastal Landscapes – Ecosystems.

Human Geography

Topics studied will include: Population Change – Globalisation – Rural Change -Tourism – Urban Change – Development Issues – Global Trade.

Fieldwork

Pupils will also be required to carry-out fieldwork activities and evaluate a contentious geographical issue in order to successfully complete Paper 3 (details below).

GCSE Geography assessment

There are 3 exam papers that will be sat at the end of Year 11:

Paper 1:      (35%) Physical Geography – 1 hour 30 mins.

Paper 2:      (35%) Human Geography – 1 hour 30 mins.

Paper 3:      (30%) Geographical applications and fieldwork – 1 hour 15 mins.

Recommended websites:

BBC Bitesize Geography

Cool Geography

For further information, please contact Miss L Mahmood (Head of Department).