Geography

Department Vision

Geography is the study of the relationships between the Earth's landscapes, people, places and environments. It helps us to understand and explain the complex world we live in.

Geography has an important role in the understanding of current local, national and global issues, such as climate change and world trade and is increasingly recognised by governments and businesses as an important enabling subject. Geography has a wide range of transferable skills in numeracy, literacy and problem solving which not only enhances understanding of other subjects but is useful at degree level and then in to the world of work.

Geography appeals to those who are interested in understanding the world around them and to people concerned about the impact of humans on the physical environment. Transferable skills, such as team building, decision-making, IT and communication skills, which are acquired whilst undertaking an education in Geography are important in furthering prospects and creating a balanced education. It is the ability of Geography to synthesise different disciplines and subjects that makes it so unique and important. Students enjoy Geography because they can relate to it and appreciate the value of furthering their understanding of the world around them.

So, whether you have a desire to contribute to finding solutions to some of the world's most critical issues or whether you simply have a fascination for people and places, then Geography will be the subject for you.

Year 7

Year 7

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Geography – An Introduction

 

What is geography? Continents and oceans, longitude and latitude coordinates, Earth’s land features and ocean-floor features. Looking at how to read maps, take grid references and how to use maps.

Term 2

Our Island Home

What are the British Isles? Changing population, changing settlements, British Isles physical geography, British Isles climate influences and patterns.

Term 3

Restless Earth - Volcanoes

A detailed look at the tectonic activity of the planet focusing on Volcanoes. Understanding eruptions in relation to plate boundaries and the impacts and management of tectonic events with located examples.

Term 4

Restless Earth - Earthquakes

To understand the cause and effect of earthquakes. Understanding these in relation to plate boundaries and the impacts and management of tectonic events with located examples.

Term 5

Biomes 1 – Introduction

To look at the range of ecosystems on the planet, from what lies beneath a stone to the globe itself. Understand deciduous, taiga and Mediterranean.

Term 6

Biomes 2 - Extremes

An understanding of Tundra and Tropical rainforest as examples of large-scale biomes at extremes.

Year 8

Year 8

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Rivers

Looking at how and why rivers form. Their role in the hydrological cycle and the range of land forms they create through processes of erosion, transportation and deposition. The use of rivers in terms of how they can be exploited and managed.

Term 2

Flooding

To have an understanding of the problems and issues that arise when rivers exceed their carrying capacity. Use hydrographs to show how a river responds to water within the system and how through careful management of the basin a river can be modified to be less prone to flooding.

Term 3

Weather

Students are introduced to the processes and controls on weather, looking at the role of energy from the sun, different pressures on the Earth’s surface and how this can lead to a range of different atmospheric conditions.

Term 4

Climate

Students are introduced to the processes and controls on climate, looking at the role of energy from the sun, different pressures on the Earth’s surface and how this can lead to a range of different atmospheric conditions.

 

Term 5

Climate Change

 

Students fully appreciate this issue and understand the complexities of the linkages within ‘global warming’. Understand what can be done at the individual, local, national and international level in order to mitigate the effects of this phenomenon.

 

Term 6

Energy

Students fully understand the wide range of energy sources on the planet from fossil fuels to non-renewables and assess the advantages and disadvantages of each. The unit concludes by investigating the appropriate energy mix for local, national and international situations.

Year 9

Year 9

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Coasts

Students are to understand the processes of erosion, transportation and deposition brought about by waves and the consequent creation of specific landforms.

Term 2

Coastal Management

Investigate how coastal erosion can be managed and the cost/benefits of doing so.

Term 3

China 1 - Introduction

An investigation into arguably the world’s next superpower. Through examples at many scales, students will look at the human and physical geography of the country. Understand the contrasts in wealth, lifestyles along with economic and cultural issues.

Term 4

China 2 - Future

Students to understand living and working in China and the future for this super-power.

Term 5

Global Issues - Development

To understand how the global economy has grown. Advantages and disadvantages of such growth and the effect on the individual and the wider world. Kenya is used to contextualise issues and problems countries face in this region of the world. Students will understand their comfortable position in the world hierarchy and understand the importance of tackling the development gap.

Term 6

GCSE Skills Preparation

Students will undertake both topics and tasks that will give them a head start for the full GCSE to follow. Skills including examination style questions and practice will be undertaken. Students’ numeracy and literacy will be deepened.

Years 10 & 11

Year 10

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Global Hazards 1 - Weather

Why do we have weather extremes? Global circulation of the atmosphere, tropical storms and droughts. El Nino and La Nina.  Case Study Typhoon Haiyan 2013, Philippines.

Case Study UK Heatwave 2018.

Term 2

Global Hazards 2 - Tectonics

Understand tectonic Hazards, plate boundaries, how the movement of tectonic plates causes earthquakes and volcanoes.  E16 Icelandic eruption and the Japanese Tsunami 2011.

Term 3

Changing Climate

To understand climate change and the factors that have caused it. To look at and understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of global climate change.

Term 4

Urban Futures

How is the pattern of urbanisation changing? What does rapid urbanisation mean for cites? Birmingham city case study, UK

Rio de Janeiro city case study, Brazil.

 

Term 5

Dynamic Development

What is development? Uneven development and groups of countries: ACs, EDCs and LIDCs. Economic and social measures of development. Human and physical factors leading to uneven development. Barriers to development.

 

Term 6

Dynamic Development

Ethiopia case study: How it has developed since 1970. What global connections influence its development? What development strategy is most appropriate?

Preparation and undertaking of Year 10 Physical fieldwork.

 

Year 11

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Distinctive Landscapes

What is a landscape? Where are the physical landscapes of the UK? How have geology, glaciation and human activity affected the UK’s landscapes? What physical processes shape coastal and river basin landscapes? 

Term 2

UK in 21st Century

Students to understand population changes within the UK since 2001 and look at how employment and the economy have changed and will change in the future. Is the UK losing its global significance?

Preparation and undertaking of Year 11 Human fieldwork.

 

Term 3

Sustaining Ecosystems

What are ecosystems? What biodiversity exists in tropical rainforests? Why are tropical rainforests being exploited and how can this be managed sustainably?

Term 4

Resource Reliance

How increasing demand for resources has affected our planet. What does it mean to be food secure? How can countries ensure their food security? 

Case Study: Tanzania food security.  Sustainable food security strategies.

 

Term 5

Revision and Final examination preparation

Revision covering individual topics, past paper questions, case study revision

Term 6

Pre-enrolment tasks for WG6

Preparing students for the rigors of WG6.

Post 16 at WG6

Year 12

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Coastal landscapes systems

 

 

 

Changing Spaces; Making Places

 

How can coastal landscapes be viewed as systems? How are coastal landforms developed?

 

What’s a place? How do we understand place? How does economic change influence patterns of social inequality in places? 

Term 2

Coastal landscapes systems

 

 

 

 

Changing Spaces; Making Places

 

How are coastal landforms developed?

How do coastal landforms develop as climate changes?

 

Who are the players that influence economic change in places?

How are places created through placemaking processes?

 

Term 3

Earth Life Support systems

 

 

 

 

 

Migration

How important are water and carbon to life on Earth?

How do water and carbon cycles operate in the Amazon rainforest?

 

Why has migration become increasingly complex?

Term 4

Earth Life Support systems

 

 

Migration

 

How do water and carbon cycles operate?

 

What are the issues associated with unequal flows of global migration?

Preparation and undertaking of Year 12 NEA fieldwork.

Term 5

Earth Life Support systems

 

 

 

Human Rights

How much change occurs over time in the water and carbon cycles?

 

What is meant by human rights? What are the variations in women’s rights?  

Term 6

Earth Life Support systems

 

 

Human Rights

To what extent are water and carbon cycles linked?

 

What are the strategies for global governance of human rights? To what extent has intervention in human rights contributed to development?

 

Year 13

 

Topic

Learning Outcomes

Term 1

Hazardous Earth

 

 

 

 

 

Disease Dilemmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEA write up

What is the evidence for continental drift and plate tectonics? What are the main hazards generated by volcanic activity? 

 

What are the global patterns of disease and can factors be identified that determine these? Is there a link between disease and levels of economic development? 

 

Introduction, Methodology & Presentation.

Term 2

Hazardous Earth

 

 

 

 

 

Disease Dilemmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEA write up

 

What are the main hazards generated by seismic activity? 

What are the implications of living in tectonically active locations? 

 

How effectively are communicable and noncommunicable diseases dealt with? How far can diseases be predicted and mitigated against? 

 

Analysis, Conclusion and Evaluation.

Term 3

Hazardous Earth

 

 

 

 

 

Disease Dilemmas

 

What measures are available to help people cope with living in tectonically active locations? 

 

 

 

Can diseases ever be fully eradicated? 

Term 4

Revision & Final preparation

Revision techniques and testing

Term 5

Revision & Final preparation

Past papers and timed tests

Term 6

 

 

Related Careers

Related Careers

The skills and knowledge gained by studying geography at GCSE and A level or university are relevant to almost all jobs and workplaces. Geography makes you literate, numerate and gives you a deep knowledge of contemporary affairs. Quite simply, there has never been a better time to be a geographer.  The Russell Group of leading universities has selected geography as one of their preferred ‘facilitating’ subjects.

  • River & Coastal management
  • Disaster Response Coordinator
  • Development and flood risk analyst
  • Agribusiness
  • UN strategic planner
  • Sustainable development engineer
  • Estate manager
  • GIS specialist for a geospatial IT company
  • Weather Producer for a TV company
  • Advisor for climate change mitigation
  • Travel writer and broadcaster
  • Education travel consultant
  • Geographer Teacher