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.
The department blog is a useful source of information for pupils and parents alike. It contains important news stories, information about exams and revision and links to useful websites. www.kenilworthgeography.blogspot.co.uk

The department also has two Twitter accounts which are aimed at Year 12 and Year 13 students. These provide a feed of useful information for students, which should help with their further reading and all round knowledge of Geography and the world.

@kenilworthgeo12 (for AS students)
@kenilworthgeo13 (for A2 students)

The Geography department area on the school VLE is well stocked with resources that are accessible to students. Some homework may be set from the VLE.


Key Stage 3

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 Environmental issues, such as Climate change, renewable energy and endangered species. This is followed with a study of Flooding 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 Hazards, be they natural or man-made.

Year 8 (Some classes have 1 lesson a week and others have 2 lessons 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. If students have two lessons a week, they will also study a short unit on Weather. All pupils will 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. For those who have two lessons a week the topic is more detailed and more skills are practiced. The final term of Year 8 is dedicated to a joint Geography and History project on the Local Area. In Geography they study three units – Transport (incorporating HS2), Shopping (practising fieldwork skills) and the Impact of Tourism on Kenilworth Castle. The year culminates with students working collaboratively, producing a display based on their knowledge of the Local Area from their History and Geography lessons.

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.

There are 5 units spread across the year, though different classes will study them at different times. Two topics revolve around thinking skills activities (Rivers & Coasts and Economic Development) and another two topics are based upon current affairs and groupwork (Population and Natural Hazards). The final unit is a research based assignment where students are given a choice of titles to study, conduct research and then write up an 800 word report.

GCSE

If pupils opt for GCSE Geography they will follow the OCR B syllabus.
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.
One piece of controlled assessment worth 25% in total – this is based on a fieldtrip
Two exam papers worth 75%
For the past few years students have been offered the chance to go on a residential field trip in Year 10 to Norfolk. This is an essential part of the course as the work that is done there will be used for the controlled assessment. This has proven to be an enjoyable and educational experience for pupils and staff!