KS3/4 Geography
We aim to give pupils varied opportunities to study the world and make links from the past to the present.
The topics studied throughout our students’ school life will inspire curiosity and fascination about the world, allowing pupils to ask questions and discover answers throughout their journey.
Intent
The Geography curriculum has been designed to provide all students with a high-quality geography education that will inspire about the world and its people.
Across the Key Stages, Geography will help to equip our students in these key areas:
· Diverse places, people and resources.
· Natural and human environments
· Deep and rich understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes
· The formation of landscapes and the environment
· Understanding of the Earth’s features
Key Stage 3:
· Locational Knowledge – extend their locational knowledge and deepen their spatial awareness of the world’s countries using maps of the world to focus on Africa, Russia, Asia (including China and India), and the Middle East, focusing on their environmental regions, including polar and hot deserts, key physical and human characteristics, countries and major cities .
· Geographical Similarities – developing knowledge human and physical geography of a chosen region.
· Physical Geography – looking at how climate change, major events and geological timescales have progressed and changed.
· Human Geography – developing understanding of the population and urbanisation.
· Human and Physical Processes – understanding the influence of human activity on planet earth
· Geography Skill and Fieldwork – developing skills and knowledge of globes, map reading skills, grid reference and scales.
Key Stage 4:
The curriculum delivered is a continuation of skills and knowledge developed in Key Stage 3 and focuses on these units:
· Threatened ecosystems
· Changing trends in tourism
· Changing population in the UK
· Responding to a major tectonic event
· Climate Change: Causes, Effects and Human Responses
Implementation
The curriculum path has been thoughtfully created, organised, and customised to build on previous knowledge and give each student a balanced education in information, skills, and understanding. Students in Key Stage 3 study human and physical geography during a weekly lesson. Students in Key Stage 4 have the option of enrolling in a WJEC Pathway, where they will attend two lessons each week. All lessons delivered are differentiated to meet individual student needs to give a greater and fulfilling learning experience.
This is delivered by educational visits and trips, guest speakers, interactive workshops, fieldwork and engaging in hands on work related to specific themes and subjects. Students also have access to high quality and purposeful resources to maximise learning potential.
Impact
Geography focuses on real world learning which makes it easier for students to make sense of the world as they study. Geography also creates tangible and effective connections across subjects which is vital for all students.
The impact of geography and development of British Values are important aspects across the curriculum and wider school community. Geography provides students with the opportunity to understand the physical and human characteristics of places, the connections between places and people, interdependence, sustainability and cultural understanding and diversity.
Each student has work assessed via B-Squared from which students are set personalised targets. Teachers evaluate students’ work, learning objectives, and success criteria in order to determine their development. Students receive verbal and written feedback throughout lessons.
The impact of geography on a student is lifelong helping to develop team building skills, communication, presentation skills, research skills and much more.