Course Overview: Geography
Geography inspires students curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The Department aims to deepen students%APOSTROPHE% knowledge of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, along with developing students understanding of the Earth%APOSTROPHE%s key physical and human processes. Students will gain an understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and how these lead to formation of different landscapes and environments. Students will develop greater competence in using geographical knowledge, approaches and concepts (such as models and theories) and geographical skills in analysing and interpreting different data sources.
Geography is taught for 2 hours a week in Year 9 and 3 hours a week for Years 10 and 11. Students are grouped according to their ability at KS3 and in mixed ability classes at KS4.
Year 7
Half Term 1
Personal Geographies
Half Term 2
Dynamic Urban Areas
Half Term 3
The Middle East
Half Term 4
Weather and Climate
Half Term 5
Environmental Issues
Half Term 6
African Journey
Year 8
Half Term 1
Development
Half Term 2
Population
Half Term 3
Tectonics
Half Term 4
Cool geography
Half Term 5
Hot Geography
Half Term 6
Asian Adventure
Course Overview: Geography
GCSE Geography gives students the opportunity to understand more about the world, the challenges it faces and their place within it. The GCSE course will deepen understanding of geographical processes, illuminate the impact of change and of complex people-environment interactions, highlight the dynamic links and interrelationships between places and environments at different scales, and develop students%APOSTROPHE% competence in using a wide range of geographical investigative skills and approaches. Geography enables young people to become globally and environmentally informed and thoughtful, enquiring citizens.
Year 9
Half Term 1
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section B: Physical landscapes in the UK
- UK physical landscapes
- Coastal landscapes in the UK
- Glacial landscapes in the UK
Half Term 2
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section B: Physical landscapes in the UK
- UK physical landscapes
- Coastal landscapes in the UK
- Glacial landscapes in the UK
Half Term 3
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
- Natural hazards
- Tectonic hazards
- Tropical storms
- Extreme weather in the UK
- Climate change
Half Term 4
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
- Natural hazards
- Tectonic hazards
- Tropical storms
- Extreme weather in the UK
- Climate change
Half Term 5
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section C: The living world
- Ecosystems
- Tropical rainforests
- Hot Desert Environments
Half Term 6
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment
Section C: The living world
- Ecosystems
- Tropical rainforests
- Hot Desert Environments
Year 10
Half Term 1
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section A: Urban issues and challenges
- LIC city
- HIC city
Half Term 2
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section A: Urban issues and challenges
- LIC city
- HIC city
Half Term 3
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section B: The changing economic world
- Study of a LIC
- Study of a HIC
Half Term 4
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section B: The changing economic world
- Study of a LIC
- Study of a HIC
Half Term 5
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section C: The challenges of resources management
- Resources Management
- Water Resource Management
Half Term 6
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment
Section C: The challenges of resources management
- Resources Management
- Water Resource Management
Year 11
Half Term 1
Paper 3: Geographical applications
- Fieldwork
Half Term 2
Paper 3: Geographical applications
- Fieldwork
Half Term 3
Paper 3: Geographical applications
- Issue evaluation
Half Term 4
- Revision
Course Components
Geography is currently taught for two hours per week in years 9 and three hours per week in year 10 and 11. Students are currently taught in mixed ability classes. All students sit three papers as part of the AQA Geography GCSE syllabus (8035) at the end of year 11.
Paper 1: Living with the physical environment- 35% of GCSE
3.1.1 The challenge of natural hazards, 3.1.2 The living world, 3.1.3 Physical landscapes in the UK, 3.4 Geographical skills
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
88 marks (including three marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology (SPaG)
Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment- 35% of GCSE
3.2.1 Urban issues and challenges, 3.2.2 The changing economic world, 3.2.3 The challenge of resource management, 3.4 Geographical skills
Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG)
Component 3: People and Environment Issues - 30% of GCSE
3.3.1 Issue evaluation, 3.3.2 Fieldwork, 3.4 Geographical skill
Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG)
30% of GCSE • Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam
Course Information
Course Name: Geography B
Qualification Type: GCSE
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Specification code: 1GB0
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After school clubs are provided for keen students who wish to stretch their abilities. Catch up and support is also offered on a one to one basis where necessary. The following enrichmenet activities are offered for Geography:
- Fairtrade, including primary school visits and our pupils delivering assemblies to primary pupils
- Bee keeping
- Eco-club with Andy Harding
- Visiting speakers
- Whole-school campaigns