What is Geography?

Where’ and ‘Why’ are the two central questions of the geography course.  This aim is to increase students’ awareness of the variety of environments in the world and how these influence people’s activities and how this affects those environments.

Lessons involve a wide range of activities to challenge pupils thinking, communication and problem solving skills.

The acquisition of transferable skills is considered to be essential to the subject.  The world is constantly changing.  Pupils must be able to continue to find and interpret information in adult life if they are to be thinking, concerned members of society.  Atlases, news reports, graphs and charts are used to develop these skills as are satellite images, aerial photos and maps at all scales.

Fieldwork in which students observe, measure and collect data which they later analyse, present and discuss, is also an important part of all the geography courses.

Positive attitudes towards racial and gender equality are encouraged by the use of appropriate resources.

Why Study Geography?

Geography is studied by all students in Years 7 and 8 for one and half hours per week.

At the end of Year 9 students choose whether to continue their Geography studies during Years 10 to 11.  The present Year 10 and 11 both have two groups studying GCSE.  AS and A2 level courses are also available to 6th form students.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography and is integrated into schemes of work for all year groups.  Investigations of both the physical background of the local area and human impact are explored using enquiry techniques. Data collected is then analysed in the classroom.

ICT

Computers are now used by pupils to access information via the Internet and to analyse the present data using the department computer and the school’s computer rooms.

Assessment in Geography

Pupils are assessed on class work and homework in a variety of ways.  A profile of achievement and effort together with targets for improving quality of work is made after each unit or term of work.

Course Content

Key Stage 3 (Years 7,8 and 9)

The new Key Stage 3 scheme of work for Geography is designed in line with the new National Curriculum. The aim is  to improve pupils progression in understanding, preparing them  for GCSE and to enable  pupils to take control of their learning. There is a focus on the development of key skills that are transferable across all subjects.

A variety of resources are used including Interactive software, text books, photos, maps and video clips to enhance the learning experience of pupils. There are also regular opportunities  for pupils to be involved in the practical aspects of geography .

Over the 3 years pupils cover the following topics:

Year 7

• What is Geography?
• Settling in Dover
• Reporting the Weather
• Me myself the UK and I
• Journey to the centre of the earth
• Raging rivers
• People and Ecosystems

• Shopping Around
• Extreme Weather
• Am I European
• Earthquakes
• Off to the Coast
• Population and resources

• Development
• Climate Change
• Geography of Crime
• Viscose Volcanoes
• Flooding
• World Project

Assessment takes place during lessons and is both teacher and pupil lead. Work is marked regularly and at the end of each unit pupils understanding and skills are assessed through a variety of tasks including; project work, presentations, reports, essays and tests.

Course Content

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

GCSE Geography

The department follows the AQA Syllabus A full course.

Unit 1: Physical Geography

Written paper - 1 hour 30 mins - 75 marks - 37.5% covering:

• Restless Earth
• Coastal zone
• Weather and Climate
• Water on the Land
• Living World

Unit 2: Human Geography

Written paper - 1 hour 30 mins - 75 marks - 37.5% covering:

• Urban environment
• Globalisation
• Rural environment
• Tourism
• Population Change

Unit 3: Local Fieldwork Investigation

Controlled assessment - 60 marks - 25%

As and A2 Geography

Students are prepared for AQA syllabus A.  Fieldwork is an integral part of both the AS and A2 course.