Geography

Geography is the study of the world around us and the interaction of human and physical features that shape everyone’s lives, day in day out.

Just turn on the news and there is geography in action. Be it a natural disaster, political upheaval, mass migration, GM crops or fracking; geography impacts all of use, all the time!

Geography provides students with the opportunity to:

explore the socio-economic factors that shape day to day lives
understand the causes, impacts and differing responses to a wide variety of natural and manmade hazards
investigating and gain a greater understanding of contemporary issues
appreciate and gain a greater understanding of how global events have local impacts on themselves and those around them
develop a range of interchangeable skills, and deploy them in new context.

People should study geography because it affects our life, every day, now and in the future; understanding geography ensures we can protect our planet.

Will Wood, Year 10

What's been happening in the geography department recently?

Year 13 students were involved in a residential fieldwork visit to Malham Field Studies Centre where they had the opportunity to collaborate with students from other centres and collect a range of primary and secondary geographical data.

They then we able to work with the experts at the centre to analyse and evaluate their findings in order to deepen their geographical understanding of the centre's nearby habitats which include limestone pavement, grazed and ungrazed grassland, woodland and species-rich fen, acid peat pools and stony hill streams.

Curriculum information:

Year 7
Learning outcomes	Year 7 focuses on developing a range of core geographical skills whilst fostering a passion for the subject. The curriculum is designed to bridge the gap between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 with students exploring key concepts in a range of different human and physical environments.
Topics taught	Geographical skills Wonderful people and places Weather and climate Extreme UK weather Rivers and flooding Population
Year 8
Learning outcomes	Year 8 develops students’ geographical thinking and enquiry skills which are needed at Key Stage 4. Students apply key concepts such as causes, primary and secondary effects and responses, as well as the interrelationship between human and physical landscapes.
Topics taught	Coasts Challenges for the planet Tectonic Population and resources Economic change Tropical storms
Year 9
Learning outcomes	Year 9 students start their GCSE journey. The curriculum is designed to ensure that all key components and concepts are deeply embedded in order to meet the high demand of the AQA GCSE Specification.
Topics taught	Urban challenge UK physical landscapes (river and coasts) Hazards (tectonic, weather and climate)
Year 10
Learning outcomes	Year 10 is specifically designed to meet the curriculum needs of the AQA GCSE specification focusing on developing depth and breadth of curriculum content as well as analysis and application of knowledge.
Topics taught	Urban challenges Hazards (tectonic, weather and climate) UK landscapes (river and coasts) Preparation for fieldwork
Year 11
Learning outcomes	Year 11 continues to review and embed previous knowledge from the AQA GCSE specification, whilst developing new curriculum content in depth. The curriculum content will continue to focus on developing depth and breadth as well as analysis and application of knowledge. During this year students will also study pre realise material from the AQA exam board, alongside the curriculum content and fieldwork investigation.
Topics taught	UK landscapes (coasts) Economic change Resource management Review and embed pervious content and fieldwork experience. Pre-realise material Revision and exam practise.

Geography is fun, engaging and educating. It’s not just about maps and places, it’s about the present and the past, what’s in it and how we impact it all.

Kirst Robin McLachlan, Year 8

Year 11 revision cards

Useful Links

Past papers