Geography

CURRICULUM INTENT STATEMENT

In geography we aim to..

‘Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that? Michael Palin (Honorary VP RGS)

Key Stage 3

In key stage 3, we teach a variety of topics covering both human and physical characteristics of the world to encourage the inquisitive nature of our students.(Fantastic places, weather and climate, river landscapes, our unequal world, hazards, population, Africa, Russia, world cities, globalisation)  We encourage students to ask questions about their own locality as well as the wider world and planet as a whole. The topics taught at key stage 3 allow the students a viewpoint into a variety of human and physical world characteristics. For example in Year 8, ‘Our World, Our Responsibility’ contains the key themes of plastic in the ocean and climate change, issues that will continue into the future and be relevant to the next generation. The curriculum has been carefully designed to allow all students, even those that don’t continue to study it, to have a broad knowledge of geography and appreciation they can carry with them.

Within Geography, the development of numeracy and literacy skills is fully integrated into all schemes of work, not only as subject related skills but as lifelong skills. Subjects are either linked to the National Curriculum, or based on current global issues that will impact the students in the future. Students are provided with information about choices at the end of key stage 3 and careers related to the Geography field. We encourage students to be independent by providing a variety of options with regard to directed tasks. This encourages the students to be confident in their geographical abilities. Students are assessed at given points within the year and are provided with feedforward challenge tasks to allow students to develop their learning.

Key Stage 4

In key stage 4, students can continue their Geography understanding by studying the GCSE Geography course. This course allows students to travel the world from their classroom, exploring case studies in the UK, higher income countries, newly emerging economies  and lower income countries. Students study a variety of human and physical themes including climate change, poverty, deprivation, global shifts in economic power and the challenge of sustainable resource use. Many topics cover themes that will continually evolve with time. 

We encourage the students to develop a number of skills. Students are allowed to develop and demonstrate a range of geographical skills, including cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical skills. Many of these skills are transferable to post 16 learning and the skills required for further life. Students are challenged to undertake appropriate fieldwork  and be aware of a number of fieldwork scenarios and relevant techniques encouraging teamwork, communication and enquiry skills. We encourage students to understand their role in society, by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes to therefore promote a rich cultural capital.  The Geographical applications unit provides the students with an opportunity to develop their own responses to a key world issue. (for example ‘Slums of hope or despair’, the possible extension to the Trans Amazonian highway, the building of a new reservoir in the UK). This develops critical thinking and decision making/problem solving.

Key Stage 5

Students can further continue their studies through the IB Geography course. In this course, students are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills, especially when dealing with sensitive topics in a digital age. The course underpins the skills and knowledge needed for a wide range of career choices such as working in planning departments and for environmental agencies. Previous Geography cohorts have been successful in gaining work experience in a range of settings; one student spent 2 weeks with the Environment Agency studying river management on the Stour. We have a central theme running through all the modules which focuses on how the world and its citizens are interconnected. There are compulsory modules on climate change and resource management, which encourage students to think about how we impact the world around us and the inequalities that exist. Students are encouraged to become globally diverse. Students are motivated to challenge their thinking by engaging with a variety of source material and views. This has provided an opportunity for all of our students to engage in higher education at a number of prestigious institutions and study a variety of different subjects due to the diversity of the Geography course.