Geography

Key Stage 3

In Year 7 pupils will study a range of topics.

 1. What is geography?

 Pupils will learn that Geography is about people, place and the relationship between them.   

2. Our school 

This topic investigates whether or not there is a place for everyone in our school. Pupils will carry out a fieldwork investigation around the school building to see whether pupils in wheelchairs could access our school.

3. My Life: Map Skills 

Pupils will use maps to explore their life at a range of scales- from their local area to the whole world. They will learn new map skills to help them.

4. Restless Earth 

In this unit pupils learn about the patterns and processes associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity. Pupils contrast the impact of this type of activity on more and less economically developed countries (MEDCs and LEDCs). The focus of the unit is describing patterns and processes and understanding and explaining the causes and consequences of tectonic activity.

5. Manchester 

This unit looks at settlement of Manchester. Pupils will investigate why people came to live in Manchester and what still brings them today. Pupils will find out how the city has changed, and is still changing now.

6.Investigating the UK 

This unit explores the physical and human landscape of the UK. Pupils will study features of the weather and climate and understand how this affects people lives. Pupils will look at how the UK is divided into different countries and regions and they will Plan a tour of the UK identifying physical and human tourist attractions in each of the different countries.

In Year 8 pupils will study the following topics: 

1. Survivor

This unit focuses on the skills needed to survive on a desert island. In the unit pupils will develop their map skills and use their understanding of physical geography to help them survive.  

2. Shop until you drop! 

In this unit pupils will understand the classification of industry, understand simple shopping hierarchies and investigate the location of shops. They will go on to look at arguments for and against the development of out-of-town shopping centres.

3. Coastal Environments 

The focus of this unit is geomorphological patterns and processes. Pupils learn about the processes of weathering and erosion and investigate the stages of development of a coastal landform. They go on to investigate the environmental planning and management of coastal areas and consider the tensions between development and conservation.

4. What a load of rubbish! 

Pupils will complete an environmental survey of the school grounds. They will then find out what happens to all our waste and what this does to the environment. They will undertake a decision making exercise to decide what is the best method to deal with our waste here in the UK.

Brazil 

In this unit pupils carry out a detailed study of Brazil as an example of a less economically developed country (LEDC). They use their geographical skills to investigate Brazil's location, its distinctive character (regional differences) and the physical and human processes that shaped the country. They begin to learn how to evaluate a country's state of economic development and also consider important environmental issues within the context of sustainable development.

In Year 9 pupils will complete the following topics.

1. Development 

Pupils are asked to consider What is development?, they will use a range of indicators to analyse world patterns of development and go on to evaluate the effectiveness of similar indicators in assessing the quality of life of different people in particular locations. 

2. Extreme Weather

Pupils will investigate the cause, effects and response associated with extreme weather events. They will study a series of case studies connected to the formation of hurricanes and tornadoes, floods and droughts and icy conditions.

3. Geography of my stuff

In this unit pupils will understand the concept of globalization and realize that through their own possessions they are linked to many different nations. Pupils will understand some of the issues of exploitation in the developing world and the consequences of adopting codes of conduct in LEDC factories. 

Key Stage 4

GCSE Geography is an option choice at Key Stage 4 but it an important subject for those pupils wishing to obtain the new English Baccalaureate where a GCSE in Geography or History at A*-C is required.

Pupils will follow the WJEC Specification B course which builds upon work undertaken at Key Stage 3 and will allow progress into post-16 phase of education. 

Pupils will develop their understanding of key geographical concepts including:

1. Place: The physical and human characteristics of specific locations.
2. Space: Where places and landscapes are located and how they are changing.
3. Scale: Develop knowledge from a local, national, international and global perspective.
4. Interdependence: Develop an appreciation about connections between places in relation to social, economic, environmental and political circumstances.
5. Environmental interaction: Be aware of the links between physical and human dimensions and how environmental change is caused.
6. Physical and human process.
7. Cultural understanding and diversity. Continue to develop an understanding of the differences and similarities between people, places and cultures.

Exams

Pupils will sit two exam papers and two pieces of controlled assessment to complete the course.