Geography
Geography is a dynamic subject with the scope to inspire and empower students. It is fundamental in helping students understand the interactions between people, places and environments and how they can be managed sustainably. The Geography curriculum at St George’s School deals with contemporary issues pertaining to physical and human environments and provides students with a breadth of knowledge underpinned by critical thinking and a range of practical and theoretical skills.
We aim to produce students who are passionate about sustainability and global issues and understand their role as a global citizen in an increasingly interconnected world. Students should enjoy the diversity and variety of our Geography curriculum, the insights it provides and the global relevance to the issues it tackles.
Key stage 3 (years 7, 8 & 9)
Geography in Year 7, 8 and 9 is taught in mixed ability groups, with students in Year 7 receiving four hours teaching a fortnight of the subject and students in Year 8 and 9 receiving three hours a fortnight. The curriculum is designed to cover the objectives listed below using a variety of engaging activities to inspire a lifelong love of the subject:
The Physical environment
- Formation and management of the fluvial, coastal and glacial landscapes
- Causes, impacts and management of tectonic and climatic hazards
- Characteristics and sustainable management of fragile environments
- Interactions within natural systems such as the atmosphere and ocean
The Human Environment
- Economic opportunities and challenges in a changing world
- Opportunities and challenges in urban environments
- Characteristics and sustainable management of global resources
- Understanding and managing population and health dynamics
This knowledge will be assessed in a range of ways throughout the course with students working on one summative assessment each half term that could take the form of a knowledge test, presentation, essay or exam.
Students will receive a ‘prep’ task each week.
Curriculum Maps
Key stage 4 (years 10 & 11)
Students follow the AQA GCSE Geography specification, covering both human and physical geography and geographical skills . Students receive five hours of Geography teaching a fortnight. There is a residential trip to the Lake District and a day trip to the Olympic Park in London.
The GCSE course is assessed entirely through examination with students sitting three Geography papers at the end of the course.
Key stage 5 (years 12 & 13)
Students follow the AQA A Level Geography specification, covering both human and physical geography and geographical skills . Students receive eight hours of Geography teaching a fortnight. There is a residential trip to Swanage and a day trip to Brick Lane in London.
The A Level course is assessed through two examinations which students sit at the end of the course and an independent investigation which forms 20% of the final grade that students submit in October of Year 13.
Additional Opportunities
The department runs a number of residential fieldwork courses every year and has done so for more than 25 years. The whole of Year 8 spends four days in Edinburgh, Year 10 spends four days in the Lake District and Year 12 spend four days in Dorset. Once every two years there is also a trip to Iceland for interested sixth formers in October.
The department also runs a number of day trips including visits to the Olympic Park and Brick Lane in London.
The faculty offers a ‘digging deeper’ super curriculum which is available to all students via Google Classroom