Geography

As Geographers we are passionate about the world around us: both our natural world and our ever-changing social world. We aim to encourage independence with enquiry-based learning with an emphasis on topical and current issues. We aim to engage and inspire students to look more closely at the world around them and to become global citizens!

KEY STAGE 3

All students in Key Stage 3 study Geography.  We begin in Year 7 by teaching the basics in our units entitled 'What is Geography?' and 'What are the seven continents of the world?'

After this we look at more specialist areas of the subjects Rivers, Coasts, 'Geography and Crime' and Tourism.  We aim to end the year with a cross-curricular Humanities trip around Oxford.  The Geography part of this trip looks at rivers and tourism.

In Year 8 we begin to move away from the UK and focus on other parts of the world.  We develop students' understanding of why some places are poor and others are rich.  We teach why some places are prone to natural hazards and others are not.  This will include an in-depth study of volcanoes and earthquakes.  We finish the year with a focus on climate change and a look at our changing cold environments.

As a teaching team we feel our Year 9 curriculum is unique and will meet our aim of enabling our students to become global citizens.  The topics we cover will prepare students who wish to take Geography GCSE, whilst developing the cultural capital of those that choose a different pathway.  Topics covered include deforestation, Dynamic Africa, Superpowers, population and the geopolitics of the Middle East.

Assessment

Students are assessed termly at the end of each unit.  These assessments will vary and will attempt to demonstrate progression of core geographical skills.  They will include multiple choice quizzes, exam questions and poster presentations.  We work to enable students to achieve their full potential during these assessments and so we often use the assessments as a tool for enabling students to progress and develop, not just to measure standards.

KEY STAGE 4

GCSE Geographers can looks at a range of economic, social and environmental issues such as sustaining ecosystems and resource reliance. We will undertake two fieldtrips during the course, one coastal and one to a city centre. The exam offers a mixture of knowledge recall and extended writing.

Geographers are renowned for excellent skills of analysis, decision making, evaluation and the ability to handle data. As such, they are always considered very employable!

KEY STAGE 5

At Key Stage 5 students have the opportunity to study Geography A Level. Students are given a wide range of support and the opportunity to take part in various field trips and enrichment activities such as attend GA lectures and to go on our residential field trip to Norfolk.

Our studies at A Level are relevant to contemporary issues such as the study of water insecurity, global

What the students think:

• It’s super fun’, ‘It is really topical’ – Thomas
• ‘The physical  stuff great’, ‘I like how it mixes science and social stuff at the same time’ Ed
• ‘It’s really cool’, ‘raises your awareness of the world and it is useful in all aspects of life’ – Inez

Sixth Form Wider Reading and Discovery Lists for A-Level Geography