Geography

“Geography students hold the key to the world’s problems.”
Michael Palin, President of the Royal Geographical Society

Department Aims

Geography is a popular subject at Priory in both Key Stages; the uptake at Key Stage 4 is excellent with many pupils choosing to study Geography as an option subject. In Geography we are committed to delivering a wide range of topics that are relevant to the lives of our students. Geography helps young people to understand the ever changing world around them.

We study Human, Physical, and Environmental Geography and how these aspects interact with each other. We encourage pupils to consider the importance of sustainability and futures when learning about their world. The topics covered are shown in the tables below.

Course Content Overview KS3

Key Stage 3

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

What is Geography?

Map Skills

USA Road Trip

Brazil

Rivers

Coasts

Crime

Weather and Climate

Tourism

Russia

Tectonics

Ecosystems

Population and Migration

Course Content Overview KS4

Key Stage 4

Year 10

Year 11

The challenge of natural hazards

The living world

Physical landscapes in the UK

Urban issues and challenges

The changing economic world

The challenge of resource management

Geography is taught for one hour a week in Years 7, 8 and 9. This increases to two hours per week in Years 10 and 11. Year 10 and 11 are following AQA Geography Specification 8035. In the Department we aim to ensure that lessons are thought provoking, enjoyable, and accessible to all regardless of ability and experience. Assessment is continuous and pupils track their individual progress throughout the Key Stages using the Geography Progress Tracker.

How we support our students?

Students are supported in Geography in a variety of ways including the provision of extra intervention and support sessions both at lunchtime and after school. We do encourage pupils to work independently using strategies such a ‘3b4me’ and all lessons are differentiated to allow progress for all pupils at their individual levels.

How we Stretch and Challenge our students in Geography?

Students are challenged in Geography in line with Route with all children are assessed using GCSE 9-1 grade criteria. We use various strategies such as the ‘questioning wall’ to allow students to develop higher order skills and thinking. We use problem solving activities and debates to allow pupils to develop their own opinions

How we deliver Literacy and Numeracy in Geography?

Literacy and Numeracy are integral to the teaching of Geography and students get the opportunities to develop these skills through; graph work; map skills; statistics; extended writing; report writing; and creative writing.

The Department is committed to the teaching of Geography though fieldwork and aim to have at least one educational visit per year group per academic year. Geography allows pupils to develop a wide range of skills which are highly regarded by employers and further education institutions.

Exams

New GCSE (9-1) – First examination summer 2018

KS4 Yr.11 Outgoing GCSE (A*- G) – last examination summer 2017

AQA GCSE Geography A
Unit 1 Physical Geography
Unit 2 Human Geography
Unit 3 Controlled Assessment

Staff List

Mr N Hill, Head of Geography

Mrs J Sefton-Miles, Teacher of Geography

Miss L Sutton, Teacher of Geography

Extra-curricular activities

Pupils are encouraged visits the department between 1:30 – 1:50pm if they need extra support with any activities they have been completing in lessons.

Pupil Academic Support Sessions (PASS) are available after February half term primarily for Key Stage 4 pupils who want to complete extra revision activities.

How parents can support their children in Geography.

We would encourage pupils to watch the news with you as everything we do in Geography is relevant to the world around us today! From the elections at home and abroad and the impacts they will have at local, national and international levels to climate change and natural hazards. Talk to them about these events and they will start to form their own opinions.
When you go out on day trips or travel around the country and abroad for holidays find out about the region you are visiting. Why have you gone there in the first place? What are the local cultures and traditions? What are the links to home and the wider world? Explore the world around you.
Parents can support their children in Geography by ensuring that children have access to the revision resources and complete GCSE past papers, such as those included in the links section below.