Geography

Rationale

Geography is all around us every day and everywhere and to be a good global citizen you will need to develop your understanding of the world we live in.

Our aim is to provide an engaging and challenging curriculum taught through inspiring and fun lessons to promote a love of Geography and a love of learning. We believe that lessons should be practical and that students should study key geographical, local and global issues; as a result parts of our curriculum are ever changing as the world around us changes. You will be encouraged to think and write like a geographer, through enquiry and investigations.

We aim to make links between different topics so that you have a strong understanding of the relationship between natural and human and understand a dynamically changing world. We also believe that you should have a good understanding of your local environment and how the changing dynamic world will impact your lives today and in the future.

We would like you to learn how to ask questions and to develop problem solving and thinking skills. In Geography you will be investigating how the planet influences people and how we are, in turn, having a dramatic influence on the planet.

Overview

*NEA = Non Examined Assessment (this is the coursework element).

Key Stage 3

We want our students to love Geography and to be engaged with the lessons. We also want to give them an excellent overview of Geography so that they are well equipped even if they do not choose to take Geography at GCSE. Our intent is for topics to be broad ranging so that students have an understanding of both the wider world and their local environment.

Throughout Key Stage 3 you will develop a wide range of transferable skills including drawing and interpreting maps, annotating field sketches, diagrams and graphs, interpreting photographs and satellite images, as well as refining your powers of analysis and the ability to express your thoughts and ideas in clear and detailed writing. We learn the importance of ICT to research up to date information and also GIS and various mapping skills in relation to Geography. You will have the opportunity to research topics and produce presentations and movies to show your ideas to the class as well as discussing and debating key issues. Fieldwork is seen as an integral part of Geography and you will have opportunities to take part in field work studies, both in the school ground and further afield and will learn how to collate, analyse and evaluate data as well as drawing conclusions and providing solutions to problems investigated.

''The natural world is the greatest source of excitement. The greatest source of visual beauty. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.'' Sir David Attenborough

Key Stage 4

We want students who choose to take GCSE Geography to continue to be engaged in lessons and to love the subject and the world they live in.

Our aim is for students to be able to apply their understanding effectively to different examples. We also want to be able to give students the time to research around the different topics covered as part of the GCSE specification so that they can develop their natural interest in the subject. We also want students to develop their key skills including map, graph and statistical skills and students will be given opportunities to conduct fieldwork and to learn how to collate, analyse and evaluate data as well as drawing conclusions.

''The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.'' Barack Obama

Post 16

Geography is all around us every day and everywhere and to be a good global citizen you will need to develop your understanding of the world we live in.

We aim for students at KS5 to have opportunities to research around topics they are particularly interested in and to continue with their love of Geography. We aim to further develop skills learnt across KS3&4 and to provide ample fieldwork opportunities to really see Geography in the field and to be able to collect data, analyse, evaluate and draw clear and precise conclusions.

Across the A Level course you will investigate how the planet influences people and how we are, in turn, having a dramatic influence on the planet. The course includes 4 days of fieldwork to collect data both for the local place study in Hythe and the distant place study in Whitechapel as well as trips to other locations in Kent to collect data for the coursework element of the course.

''Geography prepares for the world of work - geographers, with their skills of analysis are highly employable!'' Michael Palin

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Trips:

• Year 7 - Microclimate Investigation (Weather and Climate - on site fieldwork)
• Year 8 - Folkestone (Folkestone through Time)
• Year 9 - Kew Gardens (Living World)
• Year 11 - Sandgate and Folkestone (Fieldwork - Paper 3)
• Year 12 - Hythe and Whitechapel (Changing Places)
• Year 12 - Camber Sands and Folkestone (NEA)

Clubs:

• Geography Film Club
• Sustainability Club

Online Resources

Comprehensive resources are provided by the Geography department, and they can all be found on Google Classroom and in the student shared area on Google Drive.  Supplementary resources are linked below.

Exam Boards

GCSE - AQA

A-Level - AQA

If you would like to know more about our curriculum, please do not hesitate to contact the school.