Geography


The IPC programme enables children to take part in various of activities which enable them to learn about a number of contrasting places and their environments focusing on their similarities and differences. The pupils will also learn how humans affect their environment. In this, they are informed about different environmental issues learning how environments are affected by natural processes and human activities and how they can affect the lives of people. The children learn how to read maps, atlases and globes and how to interpret geographical information. 

 During Key Stage 1 the children aged 5 to 7 years will learn: 

  • The main physical and human features of particular localities focusing on their similarities and differences.
  • The weather and climatic conditions in particular localities and how they affect the environment and the lives of the people living there.
  • That people can harm or improve the environment.
  • To use geographical terms, making maps and plans of real and imaginary places, using symbols and pictures.
  • To use maps at a variety of scales to locate position and simple geographical features of different countries.
  • To use secondary sources to obtain simple geographical information.


 During Key Stage 2 the children aged 7 to 11 years will learn: 

  • How particular localities have been affected by human activities, natural features and processes, and how the quality of the environment can be sustained and improved.
  • The main physical and human features and environmental issues in particular localities and their similarities and differences.
  • The recent and proposed changes in particular localities.
  • How the nature of particular localities affect the lives of people.
  • The weather and climatic conditions in the host country and how they affect the environment and the lives of the people living there.
  • To use geographical terms, making simple maps and plans of familiar locations and use maps at a variety of scales to locate position and geographical features of particular localities.
  • To use a variety of sources to gather geographical information.
  • To collect and record evidence to answer geographical questions.
  • To use appropriate techniques to gather information and instruments to record measurements.
  • To understand how and why people seek to manage and sustain their environment.
  • The major geographic features of their host country.


Key Stage 3 

Geography at Key stage 3 (age 11 – 14) is taught in line with the British National Curriculum:

Content

During Key Stage 3 pupils will learn about a wide range of people, places and environments at different scales around the world. They will also study geographical patterns and processes and how political, economic, social and environmental factors affect contemporary geographical issues. They will investigate how places and environments are interdependent; carry out geographical enquiry, including identifying geographical questions and developing their own opinions; carry out geographical investigations inside and outside the classroom; use a range of investigative and problem-solving skills and resources, including different types of maps and atlases, satellite images, aerial photographs, texts and ICT.

Year Seven Geography Units

In year 7, pupils will undertake the ‘Geography Matters 1’ course which covers the following units:

  • The Restless Earth
  • Flood Disaster
  • People Everywhere
  • World Sport

Year Eight Geography Units

In year 8, pupils will undertake the ‘Geography Matters 2’ course which covers the following units:

  • Rivers
  • Coastal environments
  • Shopping – past, present and future
  • Weather Patterns over Europe
  • Investigating Brazil
  • Can the Earth Cope

Year Nine Geography Units

In year 9, pupils will undertake the ‘Geography Matters 3’ course which covers the following units:

  • The Global Fashion Industry
  • Tourism - good or bad?
  • Comparing countries
  • Virtual volcanoes and internet earthquakes
  • Mining on the internet
  • Local action, global effects
  • Passport to the world

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4 the students will follow the AQA C Geography syllabus.  The AQA GCSE in Geography C is an issues-based specification.  Twelve contemporary concerns are selected for investigation and arranged into three sections.  It is intended that the approach to teaching and learning underpinning this specification will allow students to:

  • Investigate the background (characteristics and causes) to issues
  • Understand the impacts and consequences involved
  • Consider alternative strategies for the more effective management of these issues

AQA GCSE in Geography C is distinctive from other specifications offered by AQA in that the scheme of assessment requires candidates to work through a Decision-Making Exercise (DME) in the form of a terminal examination.  The DME will require the development of particular skills which will require the development of particular skills which will equip candidates for the decision-making process and encourage lively, displined and balanced enquiry.

The students will also complete one field work investigation, worth 25% of the final grade.