Geography
KEY STAGE 3
The Key Stage 3 curriculum is divided into a series of themes that are taught during Years 7 and 8. Students will be taught in sets. These groups are organised according on their English set.
The Themes Taught in Year 7 are:
- Geography Skills
- Places
- International Development & Brazil
- Africa
- Britain and the wider world
- Water and Coasts
- Plate Tectonics
- Ecosystems
Themes Taught in Year 8 are:
- Economic Activities
- Population and Urbanisation
- Asia and China
- Crime
- Environmental Issues
RECOMMENDED READING
- Foundations - Waugh
- Connections - Waugh
- Interactions - Waugh
- Around the World in 80 days - Palin
- Around the World in 80 days - Verne
- Googlewhack Adventure - Gorman
- Treasure Island - Stevenson
- Jungle Book - Kipling
- The Wanderer - Creech
KEY STAGE 4
At KS4 students follow GCSE Geography OCR B – Geography for Enquiring Minds
The specification consists of 8 units, divided into 2 sections:
Section 1: Our Natural World
- Global Hazards
- Changing Climate
- Distinctive Landscapes
- Sustaining Ecosystems
Section 2: People and Society
- Urban Futures
- Dynamic Development
- UK in the 21st Century
- Resource Reliance
Students will complete an exam in both components. They will also undertake a third exam in Sustainable Decision Making and will be based on a geographical issue.
RECOMMENDED READING
- OCR B textbook
- OCR B revision guide
- Pole to Pole - Palin - Ecosystems
- New Europe - Palin - Places
- Sahara - Palin - Ecosystems
- The Winter King - Cornwell - UK landscapes
- Game of Thrones - Martin - Climate impact
- The Alchemist - Coelho
KEY STAGE 5
Students study Edexcel A Level Geography. The course is divided into 4 sections:
Section 1: Physical Geography
- Tectonic processes and hazards
- Coastal Landscapes and coasts
- The water cycle and water
- Insecurity and The Carbon Cycle/Energy Security
- 30% of final exam grade
Section 2: Human Geography
- Globalisation
- Regenerating Places
- Superpowers and Global Development
- 30% of final exam grade
Section 3: Coursework
Students attend a weekend residential trip to collect information about a geographical issue, which is then used to produce a piece of coursework which will constitute 20% of the final exam grade.
Section 4: Decision Making Paper
Students will sit an exam which will focus on a topic linked to the units in sections 1 & 2. This will make up the final 20% of the exam grade.
RECOMMENDED READING
- Integrated Approach - Waugh
- AS Geography - Edexcel
- A2 Geography - Edexcel
- Edexcel revision guides
- Hotel Rwanda - Migration and human rights
- Pompeii - Harris - Tectonic Hazards
- Down Under - Bryson - Human Rights
- Ten Cents a Dance - Fletcher - Deprivation in the USA
