In Year 7 and 8 Geography is taught at KS3 level. 

 

Year 7:

·         Map skills and settlement

We start by learning to use ordnance survey maps to navigate our way around our local area and learn about settlements. Students also learn how to use an atlas to learn about the world we live in.

·         Rivers

After Christmas Year 7 students will study rivers in depth. We look at the course of the river from source to mouth. Along the way we learn how rivers shape our landscape and are essential to our lives.

·         Japan

After Easter Year 7 students do a country study of Japan. Students learn about Japanese culture and industry as well as the physical geography of this fascinating country.

·         Coasts

In the summer term students prepare for their summer holidays by looking at our country’s great coastline. As well as looking at coastal erosion and management we also look at the impact of tourism on the coasts.

Year 8:

·         Tectonics

Year 8 begins explosively by looking deep inside the earth. We study the tectonic processes which shape the whole earth and how they cause volcanoes and earthquakes. In depth case studies of Mount St Helens and the Chinese Tangshan earthquake are completed by the end of the term.

·         Development

After tectonics Year 8 move on to look at world development. We look at the causes of world inequalities as well as how we can help the world to be a fairer place.

·         Brazil

Leading on from development Year 8 will take part in a detailed country study of Brazil. Students will look at the problems of the urban slums as well as the Amazon rainforest.

·         Weather and climate

In the summer term students will be looking at weather and climate on a range of scales. Students will investigate the micro-climate of our school as well as weather across the UK and the world.

·         E.U.

The final topic we cover in KS3 is the E.U. Students will know the history of the E.U. and the impact is has on the UK.

 

GCSE Geography Edexcel Syllabus B.

The course looks to develop students as effective and independent learners and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. They are encouraged to consider and appreciate the differences and similarities of cultures, societies and environments. Students are asked to look at various local and global problems and then critically evaluate several solutions deciding upon which one they feel is the most sustainable.

In Years 9, 10 and 11 Geography is taught at KS4 level.

Year 9:

·         Hazards

The first topic that is taught at GCSE level is hazards. This begins with tectonic hazards which allows for an easier transition from KS3 as students will have looked at this in detail at KS3. This topic also covers flooding hazards in LEDCs and MEDCs.

·         Settlement

After Christmas students are introduced to the settlement section of the course. They will look at the problems found in large urban areas in both MEDCs and LEDCs.   Focus is made on how urban areas can be managed sustainably.

·         Coasts

At the end of Year 9 students will begin to prepare to write their coursework by researching the causes and effects of coastal erosion. Students also focus on how to manage the erosion taking place and the impact of this management at other areas along to coastline.

Year10: This Year continues with the GCSE syllabus and cover the areas of:

·         Employment

Students look at how the world of work is changing and the impacts these changes have on people and the environment. The main focus is how industry can be sustainable.

·         Ecosystems.

Students consider various ecosystems e.g Tropical Rainforests, Deserts and Antarctica, and man’s effect on them with the key question being how they can now be developed in a sustainable manner.

·         Controlled Assessment.

This is started in the early part of Year 10 with a field trip allowing students to collect the primary data required. The field trip over the last two Years has been to Swanage in Dorset. This Year we are also considering an urban trip as well to consider the development of towns and cities.

 

 

Year 11:

·         Population

After completing their coursework Year 11 students will move on to look at population. They will learn about global trends of population growth and the causes and consequences of population growth in LEDCs and population decline in MEDCs.

·         Resources

In the resources unit students will look at the challenge of depleting world resource banks.   They will look at alternative energy sources from nuclear power to small scale bio-gas plants in India.

·         Climates and Climate Change

This unit looks at how climates have changed through time and considers the various effects of global warming on today’s climate. Extreme climates of the desert and polar regions are studied and how they may change in the future.