Geography at KS3

Our KS3 curriculum teaches students to have: 

• Awareness of impacts, mitigation and adaptation to threats on spaces and places around the world
• Understanding of how physical processes shape our landscapes in the UK, and around the wider world
• Proficient in use of transferable geographical skills including critical analysis of numerical and cartographic data sources.
• Understanding of conflict in geographical issues, allowing students to form justified opinions on complex issues, with evidence based conclusions.
• A sense of awe and wonder for the world around us, as well as a sense of place and purpose.

Our curriculum at KS3 promotes the academy values, especially the core values of Respect, Compassion, Aspiration and Equality. This will be delivered through case studies that showcase life around the world, and lessons that encourage empathy for people from all cultures and backgrounds.

Year 7

Focus:

We have chosen units that range in scale, starting small scale before expanding to look at global issues. Unit 1 gives students a sense of place within the UK, and hopes to address some of the contentious issues facing the UK today. Unit 2 instils a sense of awe and wonder, whilst educating students on historic and current environmental events. Unit 3 encourages a sense of adventure, introducing students to some of the wilder landscapes around the world. Unit 4 focuses on a critical analysis of our impacts on the world, culminating in an increased awareness of British values and global citizenship. Each unit includes the teaching of geographical skills, functional skills and aims to reinforce the academy values.

Key topics:

• Living in the UK
• Natural Hazards
• Rivers of the World

Issue Evaluation - The Plastics Problem

Year 8

Focus:

Unit 1 explores inequalities around the world and encourages enquiry skills through addressing common misconceptions that students have about development. Unit 2 addresses the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation, leading to students having a clearer understanding of their impact on the wider world. Unit 3 promotes an interest in some of the most extreme environments, while investigating humanities’ global stewardship. Unit 4 focuses on a critical analysis of our impacts on the world, culminating in an increased awareness of British values and global citizenship.  Each unit includes the teaching of geographical skills, functional skills and aims to reinforce the academy values.

Key topics:

• Living in the Developing World
• Global Trade
• Ecosystems of the Planet
• Issue Evaluation - Climate Change

Year 9

Focus:

Unit 1 will encourage students to explore key geographic issues that are going to impact their lives, including climate change and plastics pollution. This will enable them to form their own opinions on such issues as ethical consumerism and environmental decision making. Unit 2 will use Russia as an example of a complex country with a rich and diverse history to illustrate some of the concepts they have learnt in KS3 Human Geography. Students will focus on the big question of “Is Russia an important country on a global stage?”. Unit 3 instils a sense of awe and wonder, whilst educating students on historic and current environmental events – students in Year 9 will be encouraged to address the geomorphic processes with a critical eye, which will challenge students who are picking GCSE Geography to develop this key skill. Each unit includes the teaching of geographical skills, functional skills and aims to reinforce the academy values. 

Key topics:

• Environmental Issues
• Russia
• Natural Hazards

GCSE in Geography

Why study this subject?

What could be more important than learning about the world that over 7 billion people inhabit? Geography is the subject that enables us to do this. Not only is geography an interesting subject, it is also valued by employers and universities. Geography will not only provide you with an excellent qualification, it will also support you in your other subjects by helping you develop diverse skills like problem solving, decision making and team building skills, whilst learning about your place in the world around you. Want to know how your daily decisions can have an impact on a child’s life in Indonesia or a polar bear’s food supply in the North Pole? Then geography is the subject for you.

What will I learn?

Geography is split into two major elements; human and physical geography. In physical geography, you will learn about rivers and flooding; coastal management; volcanoes; earthquakes; hurricanes and the impacts they have on people. In human geography, you will learn how people around the globe are interconnected, and the issues facing countries at different stages of development. You will also plan and undertake to field studies to an urban area such as Stratford upon Avon, and a river valley in Shropshire; be sure to bring your wellies and waterproofs!

How will I be assessed?

Your class work and homework will be regularly marked and feedback given will ensure you know how to improve your progress and attainment. You will always know what grade you are working at and how to improve your performance and progress. There will also be three exams at the end of Year 11.

• Paper 1: Living with the physical environment – 35%
• Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment – 35%
• Paper 3: Geographical applications – 30%

What qualifications will I get at the end of the course?

A GCSE in Geography at a grade that reflects your work ethic and commitment.

What can this qualification lead to afterwards?

Geographers enter a very wide range of career areas like advertising, diplomatic service, education, environmental agencies, finance, law, land management, marketing, sales, social/health services, etc.

Post-16 progression?

After securing a good GCSE grade in geography, you will have the option to continue with the subject at A-Level. The most obvious higher education path would be to study a degree in geography, but due to the diversity of the subject you are able to choose a from a large variety of courses. These include: Human Geography, Physical Geography, Law, Accounting, Architecture, Sociology and International Politics. Not only this, but the transferable skills developed by the subject have enabled students to study in locations across the globe, such as reading zoology in Borneo, to exploring the effects of glaciation in Iceland. The world is your oyster with a geography degree.

Where can I find out more about this qualification?

The AQA website: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

To see what you might be studying: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/geography/