What makes us passionate about our subject? (Intent)

Geography is a subject which enhances the understanding of the world in which we live in.  What inspires geographers is the fact that our subject encapsulates many different elements in the world.  The world in which we live is constantly changing and faces many challenges from climate change to tackling social inequalities.  As geographers we thrive on the ability to take these current world events and seek to understand the causes, consequences and management of these problems.  Each day our lessons can be inspired by an event in the news from either the local, national or global arena and we are enthused to develop discussions with students regarding these events and gauge opinions, challenge preconceptions and reach a consensus.  The subject is where we are able to challenge students to be innovative in a range of scenarios from managing rainforests to tackling inequality.  One of the great passions of Geography is taking students on fieldwork visits where we see them developing key skills in data collection and developing their awe and wonder of the world around them.  It is fascinating to see student’s research topics and interact with the public and take from these discussions views which they did not previously consider.  As staff we are passionate about making students appreciate the world in which they live and, in an age, where we are bombarded by media stories about the threats facing the planet, we thrive on the opportunity to look at these.  Our curriculum can adapt and each lesson it is possible to inspire students with current events which they can connect with.  The sheer variety of content and skills is why Geography is a subject which will always be at the forefront in the world.  It has been said that ‘Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future’ and we wholeheartedly believe in this statement.

What do our students gain by studying our subject? (Impact)

Geography students are those who gain not just a body of knowledge about the world around them but a range of skills which makes them able to apply their geographical understanding in a range of contexts.  A geographer’s key skills are those such as numeracy, literacy, map skills and computer-based mapping.

The world in which we live is often seen as a series of isolated environments, landscapes and urban centres. One of the real advantages of geographers is their ability to see the interconnectivity of places and explore how our actions, in a range of contexts, impact on parts of the world.  Geography students are encouraged to display empathy and this vital skill enables students to appreciate the different perspectives held pertaining to topics such as climate change.

The world has many spatial variations and inspiring landscapes.  Students studying Geography gain an in depth understanding of the processes leading to the formation of physical landscapes and can interpret maps, photographs and satellite images to study a wide range of locations.  Furthermore, temporal changes in landscapes can be understood and the impact of human activity on landscapes is evaluated.  Consequently, there is a deep appreciation of the physical world in which we live.

In addition to secondary data, students have the opportunity to collect and use primary data gained through a series of fieldwork experiences.  Geographers have a great ability to develop the idea of sampling when collecting data, presenting, analysing data and then drawing conclusions whilst also evaluating the effectiveness of their investigations.  This enables students to look at any issues they would want to investigate and be able to undertake an enquiry in this area.  Geography students are therefore ones who have a wide range of transferable skills.

Geography Curriculum Map and Assessment

GCSE

For GCSE we follow the AQA syllabus.

To visit the examination board website click here. https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

 

A-Level

For A Level we follow the OCR syllabus.https://ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce/geography-h081-h481-from-2016/

 

 

 

 

 

 

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