Geography
The geography department is part of the Humanities faculty. Geography lessons take place in two specialist teaching rooms just off the Lower Hall. There are two full time specialist geography teachers. We are also supported and work closely with the other three staff from within the Humanities faculty.
Aims
We aim to give students an awareness and understanding of current issues concerning the local, national and global environment. With important geographical events happening each year, it is vital that our students have an understanding of how these significant events affect people worldwide.
Every student will get the opportunity to use geographical enquiry and skills to develop knowledge and understanding of places, patterns and processes, with special consideration being given to environmental change and sustainable development.
What will I study?
Year 7 students will have the opportunity to develop their mapping skills whilst also studying settlement and rivers. In Year 8 students learn about volcanoes and earthquakes, population and resources and weather and climate. Year 9 allows students to further their geographical learning through the study of development, coasts and tourism. Throughout Key Stage 3 students will have the opportunity to study detailed case studies in Britain, Brazil and Australia.
“Geography is really good because we get to learn about maps and the environment and culture of different countries.”
Nahida Aktar, Year 8
How will I study?
We are keen to harness students’ natural curiosity and will help them develop enquiring minds. Geography lessons involve pupils in their own learning, as we value interactive teaching and independent learning. Pupils will investigate topics through group work, research, debate, visual images and thinking skills activities. We aim to make the classroom a high challenge, low stress environment for all learners.
How will I be monitored and assessed?
Units of work are assessed using written tasks, presentations and case studies. Teachers grade work throughout the year using National Curriculum levels, allowing SMART/clear targets to be set to help each student understand what they need to do to progress.
We believe self and peer assessment activities are essential for understanding how to make progress, and as such key units will give students the opportunity to develop skills of constructive feedback to help them improve their own learning as well as the work of other students. We are also keen to involve students in setting their own targets for improvement.
What will happen in KS4?
The Key Stage 4 Geography curriculum is designed to provide students following GCSE Geography with a course that develops a sound understanding and knowledge of geographical themes, issues and skills. A people-environment theme has been adopted throughout the course highlighting the importance of this interaction.
The use of examples and case studies is seen as fundamental in the delivery of the curriculum in order to achieve meaningful understanding of the themes being studied. The case studies and examples are studied at a variety of scales and in differing environments including areas at various stages of economic development.
Another GCSE option offered is Leisure and Tourism. This vocational qualification provides a valuable link between school and employment in one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Students learn about leisure and tourism industries and the importance of marketing and customer service in making business successful. Through work experience and field visits students will get hands on experience of the marketing and customer service aspects of the leisure and tourism industry.