Geography - further details

In Geography there is an emphasis on learning concepts and skills through a sense of place and raising environmental awareness so that students gain a  greater understanding of the world they live in. In Year 7, students study ‘Fantastic Places’, as an introduction to geography. They will study marine geography including a fieldtrip to the National Marine Aquarium. They also study mapskills, the geography of sport and weather and climate . In Year 8 students cover tourism, river flooding, Asian Superpowers and population. They also have a decision-making fieldtrip to Slapton Sands. In Year 9 they study the geography of fashion and film before moving onto GCSE units on ‘Tectonic Hazards’ and ‘Living World’.

Key Stage 3

At this key stage the emphasis is on key skills, the development of a sense of place and an understanding of key concepts in physical and human geography.

Assessments are undertaken each half term focusing on different skills needed within the subject e.g. essay style, data analysis, map and graph skills etc. 

In Year 7 students begin the course by looking at 'Fantastic Places' around the world giving them a broad introduction to different processes and geographical features. They complete a unit of map and atlas skills which is then supported throughout KS3 across all units. In January they learn about threats to coral reefs and marine ecosystems and we focus on what can be done to save them which is supported by a trip to the Plymouth Aquarium which includes various workshops for the students. Students do a whole unit on Kenya, looking at climate, population, traditions and culture and tourism to help give them a thorough understanding about one country in particular. Finally, to coincide with various sporting events, we teach the geography of sport looking at the impacts of the World Cup on Rio, the use of sweatshops for sports kit and equipment, how we can predict the successful teams/individuals of an event based on a country's Gross National Income etc. 

In Year 8 students start off studying tourism and the positive and negatives of it and how and why it has changed over time, in which they do group projects collecting, analysing and then presenting their data and findings. They study rivers and flooding and compare two case studies, Boscastle and Bangladesh to give them an understanding on how the severity of natural disasters varies depending on the country they are in. Students then move on to look at 'Asian Superpowers' where we focus on China and Japan and their rapidly increasing status in the global economy. Students complete a homework project focusing on one specific aspect of the unit e.g. China's One Child Policy or the Three Gorges Dam and share these with the rest of their class. This ties in nicely to our population unit learning about migration and population demographics. Finally, students study impossible places including various examples and in July they go to Slapton to determine whether or not it is seen as impossible given the vulnerability of it's coastline and repetitive destruction of the transport links. 

In Year 9 students students start part of the GCSE content focusing on tectonic hazards, ecosystems and tropical rainforests. They do not choose their options until January of Year 9 so all students, even if they then drop the subject will do these topics. Students also study the geography of film which broadens their geographical understanding and perspective and ties multiple topics together. Finally, students look at fashion's 'dirty secrets' and how fast fashion is one of the main contributor's to severe global environmental issues.  

Key Stage 4

At this key stage students follow the AQA specification which consists of three exams at the end of Year 11. They cover the topics of hazards, UK landscape, changing economic world, the challenge of resource management, urban issues and the living world. Fieldwork is integral to the course and students go on two compulsory trips, one human geography trip to Bristol and then one physical geography trip to Dawlish Warren. 

Key Stage 5

Following the AQA specification which consists of two exams and independent coursework, students cover a range of topics in depth including glaciation, global governance, contemporary urban environments, water and carbon cycle and changing places. Students go on a 3 day residential fieldtrip to the Lake District to study glaciation and then spend 2 days in Manchester on the way back to complete urban fieldwork. These fieldtrips are compulsory and provide an excellent introduction and example for students who then choose their coursework topic which can relate to any aspect of the specification. 

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