Geography

The study of geography stimulates an interest in, and a sense of wonder about, places and helps make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains how places and landscapes are formed, how people and environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies and societies are interconnected. It builds on pupils' own experiences to investigate at all scales from the personal to the global.

Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people's lives, for the present and future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially, using maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems, to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

We consider it essential to involve pupils in their learning we achieve this by using a wide range of teaching and learning styles such as: open-ended enquiry, oral assessment, research, peer assessment, activity-based work, problem-solving and ICT.

The Geography Department sees one of its most important roles as contributing to pupils' education to enable them to become active and thinking members of the community who are aware of the importance of interdependence, rights and national and global levels.  Geography provides a unique bridge between the arts and science subjects within the school curriculum.  .  

KS3 Curriculum

We have an innovative KS3 curriculum which addresses the needs of the individual student. The modules of work have been produced to provide students with an exciting curriculum which looks at key topics that are relevant to our students. We study a wide range of issues such as global warming, conflict diamonds, the conflicts of water and many other new topics that have emerged as key issues in the last few years.

KS4 Curriculum

The department follows the Edexcel B specification, which builds upon the issues and enquiries studied at KS3 and looks at the evolving planet.

Unit 1 focuses upon the interaction between people and the planet eg living spaces, consuming resources, development dilemas

Unit 2 focuses on the dynamic planet eg climate change, oceans on the edge, river processes etc

Unit 3 Making Geographical Decisions --this unit is designed to give students the opportunity to investigate geographical issues related to change and development, set in a preannounced theme. The       resource booklet will contain information and will be used as the basis for the examination.

Unit 4 Researching geography -- in this unit student's complete fieldwork and a report under cont rolled assessment conditions.

ASSESSMENT

All units are worth 25%of the final grade

Units 1 and 3 will be examined in Year 10

Units 2 and 4 will be examined in Year 11

KS5

BOB can you take the stuff from the 6th form handbook as I cant track it down.

Homework

Students are expected to complete homework nad all assessed work in the necessary time.