Geography

Staffing

• Miss R Armstrong (Head of Department)
• Mrs M Sykes (Second in Department)
• Mr T Shanker
• Mr A Stewart
• Mr C Musgrove

Key Stage 3:

At Key Stage 3 pupils follows courses in line with QCA documentation. Courses are written to include cross- curricular ideas such as literacy, numeracy, information technology, sustainable development and citizenship. Each unit comprises of didactic, interactive and practical activities in order to engage all pupils. Fieldwork and investigative learning are built into schemes of work. Pupils are taught in mixed- ability form groups. There is support from the Special Needs Department in a number of lessons for statemented pupils and those with specific learning requirements.

A fieldtrip to the Lake District is held in Year 8 to look at sustainability. In the past visits have included Electric Mountain in North Wales, Blue John Caverns in the Peak District and Meadowhall Shopping Centre Sheffield. Feedback from pupils in end of unit reviews suggests that they enjoy the subject and the way in which they learn.

Throughout Key Stage 3 pupils use the Geog 1, 2, 3 series as their major textbook. Other resources used include Board works, a number of CD ROMs, videos and DVDS. Schemes of work are updated on a regular basis and a variety of resources are available for lower ability and those of Gifted and Talented children.

Pupils are assessed throughout the Key Stage.

Each assessment is levelled and pupils get a target level at the start of each year.

Each level is used toward the final Key Stage 3 assessment in Year 9.

What is taught:-

Year 7:-

Mapwork, Settlements, Rivers, Volcanoes and Earthquakes, World Sport

Year 8:-

Coasts, Ecosystems, Brazil, Crime and Energy

Year 9:-

Development, Population, France, Tourism, Global Fashion, Passport to the World

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Key Stage 4:

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AS Level

 AS/A2 Geography

Geography is a valuable qualification. It is sort after by employers for its combination of knowledge, skills of integration and competence and a number of key skills such as ICT.

The main aims of the course are:-

• To encourage a spatial awareness and sense of place.
• To ensure topics have relevance to the modern world and young peoples’ lives.
• To develop skills in individual research and investigation.

Year 12

 

In Year 12 AS students can study the subject as a stand alone qualification or as the first part of their full A2 qualification. The AS is made up of 2 mandatory units which are externally assessed and form 50% of the A2.

The following units are studied:-

Managing Physical Environments:-

Topics include

• River Environments
• Coastal Environments
• Cold Environments
• Hot Arid and Semi Arid Environments

 

Managing Change In Human Environments:-

• Topics include
  • Managing Urban Change
  • Managing Rural Change
  • The Energy Issue
  • The Growth of Tourism

 

Year 13

In Year 13 students who continue with the course study the following:-

Global Issues

• Environmental Issues – this includes topics such as Earth Hazards, Ecosystems and Environments under threat.
• Economic Issues and Climatic Hazards – this includes topics such as Population and Resources, Globalisation, Development and Inequalities
• Geographical Skills – students develop skills in investigation, collecting and recording data, presenting data, and analysing and interpreting data.

The course is taught through relevant up to date and ‘real life’ experiences and through the investigation of fieldwork and ICT.

A level Geography is demanding, requiring the ability to work hard and develop skills of analysis and assimilation. Successful geographers are committed, inquisitive and determined individuals who have the ability to draw on what is happening elsewhere in the world.

To follow this course you will normally be require a grade B at GCSE in Geography.

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Careers/ Educational Opportunities

Geography provides young people with opportunities to develop a wide range of skills that will contribute to their employability, whatever their chosen career. The wide range of transferable skills, abilities and attitudes to independent learning developed through geographical study make geographers attractive to employers.

Geographical study involves the synthesis of facts, figures, ideas and perspectives providing ideal preparation for decision-making at work. In a world where career paths have become more varied, with individuals more readily changing from working in one sector to another, the acquisition of transferable skills has become all important. These include team skills, decision-making, IT and communication skills

Few disciplines cover such a broad range of elements as Geography. Geography appeals to all those who are interested in understanding the world around them and to people concerned with the impact of humans on the physical environment.

Career paths open to geographers are wide. E.g. Those relating specifically to Geography such as town and country planning, land and water management, environmental consultancy, development policy tourism and recreation. Others may choose to use their skills in more general terms such as information technology, administration and management, the financial sector and marketing.

Geography is one of the top academic disciplines for its employability. The intellectual, analytical and technical skills developed whilst studying Geography are highly sought after by employers in the commercial and public sectors. It is estimated that 80% of all data now collected has some geographical feature and those best to interpret this data are geographers.

Geographers have ability to use sophisticated techniques in their work. Therefore if you want to study a subject recently described in the British press as 'painfully trendy not to mention enjoyable, and wish to expand your career horizons at the same time, then study Geography!

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