Welcome to the Geography Department

Geography is a popular subject at Key Stage 4 and 5. Results are very good and this is a result of hard work from both staff and pupils.

In this Geography area we would like to tell you a little about the courses we run and the topics pupils will study. There are also links provided to other sites that may prove helpful for students and parents. Keep checking on a regular basis, as more site links will be added and resources shared.

Geography at Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 and 9)

Year 7 (2 lessons a week)
Year 7 students follow a programme that starts with Map Skills. We feel that this is an essential part of studying Geography and the skills that are taught to the pupils will be useful throughout their Geography careers. Within this unit students will also learn about “Our country”. We then move onto a unit called Physical processes. This is a short unit that introduces the ideas involved in weathering and erosion. Armed with this knowledge pupil’s then study Floods in the spring term. France is the first country that is studied in year 7 and we focus on Paris and the Auvergne region. Pupils will also study the country of Brazil, looking at the cities there and the rainforest ecosystem. The last term of Year 7 is dedicated to Environmental issues, such as Climate change, renewable energy and endangered species.

Year 8 (1 lesson a week)
In year 8 pupils start the year by studying Coastal management. They learn how the coast is shaped and how we can protect the coastline. They then move onto Football and Development in the spring term – which is closely linked to Geography! Pupils learn about child labour in Pakistan and how it is linked to the game as well as other issues surrounding development. The final term of Year 8 is dedicated to the study of Hazards. Pupils learn about Earthquakes, Volcanoes and Hurricanes, as well as the human hazard of Crime!

Year 9 (1 lesson a week)
In the final year of Key Stage 3 pupils study Geography through the news. The course is linked to the GCSE syllabus and there is a separate information sheet about this course, explaining its rationale and how it actually works. The course is designed to increase pupil’s knowledge of the world as it stands and to encourage them to take an interest in current affairs. It will also encourage the development of greater independence of study.

Geography at Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11)

If pupils opt for GCSE Geography they will follow the OCR Avery Hill syllabus. The core textbook for this course is Heinemann Geography for Avery Hill: Compendium. Pupils will have access to this book in school only, but if parents wish to purchase a copy they can do so.

The GCSE course consists of 4 units:

Examinations
We are lucky in Geography to have tiered entry. This means some students will sit a Foundation paper, which will enable them to obtain grades C-G. Some pupils will sit the Higher tier paper, which will allow them to achieve grades A*-D.

2 pieces of coursework worth 25% in total
2 exam papers worth 75%

Further information about this course can be found on OCR's website.

For the past three years students have been offered the chance to go on a residential field trip in Year 10 to Norfolk. This has proven to be an enjoyable and educational experience for pupils and staff!