Geography

CURRICULUM INTENT

The intent of the Geography curriculum is that our students will have a deep understanding of their local environment and the diverse surroundings in the wider world, with appreciation to human and physical characteristics.  


We will deliver a curriculum that: 

  • Inspires a curiosity and fascination about the world and it’s people  
  • Equips students with an understanding of diverse places, people, resources and environments around them 
  • Allows students to build on prior learning about physical and human processes and the formation and use of landscapes and environments
  • To enable students to understand the impact they have on the environment and the world 
  • Develops an understanding that the Earth’s features are interconnected and change over time 
  • Encourages exploration of their own environment and challenges students to make connections between their local surroundings and that of contrasting settlements   
  • Use local area and community to develop geographical skills and knowledge
  • To use their geographical skills and knowledge to explore and protect their world.
  • To be able to debate key political issues that impact the world they live in whilst becoming responsible citizens.

Geography Vision

  • An equally balanced curriculum incorporating Physical and Human Geography. All areas of study to incorporate location, place and skills. Skills are tracked through the LTP.
  • Opportunities for Cultural Capital and reading throughout the Geography curriculum.
  • Topics develop overtime with clear and purposeful links between the KS3 and KS4 curriculum (vertically integrated).
  • The Geography curriculum is coherent, making connections between different areas of study across different year groups and different key stages.
  • The Geography curriculum is focused with a clear identification of the big picture and big ideas with relevant content so students become interested in topics they didn’t know they were interested in!
  • To study a balanced, broad and deep Geography curriculum that will ensure relevance to its learners.

Please click on the expandable sections below for more details including the curriculum overview and specification.

Geography Curriculum Overview

Curriculum overview

 

             

Year 7

What is Geography and Geographical Skills

The United Kingdom

Rivers

Coasts

Urbanisation (Settlement)

Weather and Climate

Year 8

India

International Development

Population

 Earning a Living

Africa

 

Kenya

Year 9

Ecosystems (Amazonia)

Our Restless Planet

The Middle East

Using Earth’s Resources

China

 

Climate Change

Year 10

 

A) Tectonic Hazards

A) Weather Hazards inc Tropical Storms & UK Extreme Weather

A) Climate Change     

 

B) Ecosystems -Tropical 

B) Rainforests

B) Hot Deserts

C) Coastal Landscapes in the UK

C) River Landscapes in the UK

A) Urban Issues and Challenges

Fieldwork – Visit to Ashford High Street & the River Ash in June

Year 11

Geographical Skills
And Revision


A) Field Work and Issue Evaluation
 (March)

C) Resource Management

C) Food

Geographical Skills
And Revision

Geographical Skills
And Revision


A) Field Work and Issue Evaluation
 (March)

Geographical Skills

And Revision

 

A) Field Work and Issue Evaluation

 (March)

 

 

 

 

GCSE Specifications

Subject Leader: Miss Wimbledon 

Contact: sam.wimbledon@sunburymanor.thpt.org.uk

Exam Specification: AQA GCSE (9-1) in Geography – 8035 

QN Code: 601/8410/3 

Summary of course content  

The school will follow AQA’s GCSE (9-1) in Geography. 

The specification and support material for this course can be found using the following link: 

AQA | Geography | GCSE | GCSE Geography 

Assessment 

The specification is divided into the following areas: 

Paper 1: Living with the physical environment including hazards, ecosystems, rivers and coasts. 

(Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes/88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology (SPaG)/35% of GCSE)

Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment including urban challenges and opportunities, the changing economic world and resource management. 

(Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes/88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG )/35% of GCSE) 

Paper 3: Geographical applications Compulsory field work to a local river and a local urban centre, and an issue evaluation. 

(Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes/76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG )/30% of GCSE Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam) 

What type of activities take place in lessons? 

Integration of maths, science & map skills, essay questions, research tasks, exam question practise, discussions, group and paired work activities, speech writing and presentations. 

What type of homework tasks will be set? 

Revision for exam questions, background reading on all topics, how to approach exam style questions, key vocabulary revision and mind-mapping topics. 

How will it help me in the future? 

Geography combines well with arts, maths and science subjects. Geography is a broad-based subject that really fits well for your future progression. 

For careers in SUSTAINABILITY and GREEN ISSUES, urban regeneration, energy supply, retail location, managing the effects of hazards and climate change, geography is an obvious choice.  

For careers in the WORLD OF BUSINESS, an understanding of global economics forms an important part of geography. If you are thinking of a career in LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS or WELFARE then geography gives you the opportunity to consider relevant issues such as; how do we measure development? What are the consequences of migration on societies?  

If you are working towards a future course in MEDICINE or VETERINARY MEDICINE then GCSE geography is a stepping stone towards geography A Level, as you will gain a clear understanding of how the environment affects health and survival of people, animals & ecosystems, as well as enhancing your skills of writing essays & extended reports.  

What skills will I develop? 

The study of GCSE Geography can help you to: 

  • Appreciate the geographical, numerical & statistical skills you need to succeed by working through clear explanations of each skill. 
  • Develop such skills as you progress through the GCSE course with a range of practical activities. 
  • Prepare for fieldwork questions using detailed support on investigative skills, fieldwork techniques and geographical enquiry.