The Geography Department aims to give students a better understanding of the world around them. Students are encouraged to take a strong sense of responsibility for their own actions, towards themselves, society and the environment. There are three main aims; to develop geographical knowledge and understanding; to introduce students to geographical enquiry; to help students develop a sense of identity and place through a range of scales from local to global.
Students are taught in mixed ability groups across all years. Each year, students will cover a range of human, physical and environmental geographical issues to support our overall aims. Home learning is set on a half termly basis, with tasks designed to take several weeks. Assessments are both formative and summative. Assessments are designed to monitor progress through knowledge and understanding, skills and decision making.
Below is a summary of what students can expect to learn in Years 7-9.
- What is Geography? ‘Fantastic’ places
- Settlement and urbanisation
- Food and farming
- Map skills
- Hot environments and tropical rainforests
- Inequality and the BRICS
- Rivers and flooding
- Weather and climate
- Cold environments and glaciation
- Oil rich nations
- Globalisation and economic activity
- The Development Gap
- Tectonic Hazards
- Weather Hazards
- Climate Change
- Geographical futures
Years 10 and 11
Students follow a two-year AQA GCSE course. The course is split into four elements: Living with the physical environment, Challenges in the human environment, Geographical applications, and Geographical skills. Students are expected to complete two days of compulsory fieldwork. Home learning is set frequently, with a range of tasks from Seneca Learning to exam question practice. Current Year 11 students are completing the EDUQAS B specification.
Below is a summary of what students can expect to learn across the AQA course.
Living with the physical environment
- Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
- Section B: The living world
- Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK
Challenges in the human environment
- Section A: Urban issues and challenges
- Section B: The changing economic world
- Section C: The challenge of resource management
- Section A: Issue evaluation
- Section B: Fieldwork
Students follow the EDUQAS Geography course at A level. Students are expected to complete four days of compulsory fieldwork. Formal homework is set weekly, as well as an expectation for students to complete a further 5 hours of independent study per week. The course has four components: Component 1: Changing Landscapes and Changing Places, Component 2: Global Systems and Global Governance, Component 3: Contemporary Themes in Geography and Component 4: Independent Investigation.
Below is a summary of what students can expect to learn across the EDUQAS course.
Component 1: Changing Landscapes and Changing Places
- Section A: Changing Landscapes
- Section B: Changing Places
Component 2: Global Systems and Global Governance
- Section A: Global Systems
- Section B: Global Governance: Change and Challenges
- Section C: 21st Century Challenges
Component 3: Contemporary Themes in Geography
- Section A: Tectonic Hazards
- Section B: Contemporary Themes in Geography
Component 4: Independent Investigation
- Non-exam assessment
The Geography Department aims to enrich geographical understanding and skills by running trips. Recent trips include:
- London Docklands