Geography
Geography is an all-seeing eye on the world
Geography is taught throughout the school by three subject specialists.
Aims of the Department:
- To develop an understanding of the human and physical world in which we live, in order to instil global responsibility and citizenship;
- To develop an understanding of different cultures, levels of development and ways of life;
- To develop cross-curricular themes, thus relating geography to other disciplines in terms of knowledge, expertise and skills;
- To encourage field study skills in order to experience geography first hand.
Geography is compulsory for girls in years 7 to 9 and becomes an option in years 10 and 11. It is a popular choice for both GCSE and Advanced Level Study.
Curriculum
Year 7: All girls are issued with an Earthworks 2 textbook. The year begins with a mapwork course, followed by settlement and ecosystems.
Year 8: All girls are issued with Earthworks 1 textbook. Three units are studied: Weather and Climate, Settlement and Coasts. The girls also undertake an independent country study.
Year 9: All girls are issued with New Wider World. The Autumn Term is spent delving into some of the key global issues of the 21st century, such as overpopulation, climate change, development. In January, we embark upon the GCSE course, starting with Tectonics. This gives the girls a flavour of the GCSE content and enables them to make an informed choice about whether to continue their geographical studies to GCSE level.
Year 10 and 11: Girls are issued with a copy of the AQA Geography approved text . The course followed is AQA Specification A. Module One is taken at the end of Year Ten , the units studied being: Tectonics, Rivers and Coasts. Module Two is taken at the end of Year 11, the units studied being Population, Development and Tourism. A Controlled Assessment module is also taken.
Year 12 and 13: Girls are issued with the Nelson Thornes AQA approved text. The AQA course is followed with girls taking the two AS papers in June of Year 12. The topics studied are Population and Rivers (Core) and Health Issues and Glaciation (Options). At A2 four units are studied: Contemporary Conflicts and Challenges, World Cities, Plate Tectonics and Associated Hazards, Weather and Associated Hazards. A fieldwork paper is also conducted.
Resources
The department is housed in its own specialist area with access to computer, projector, interactive whiteboard, DVD player, and remote weather station. The library is well-stocked with geography resources including textbooks, periodicals and DVDs.
Clubs
A Year 7 Geography Club “Where in the World” encourages pupils to engage more fully with the world around them, including their local area. The department also engages in activities outside of school such as the Worldwise Quiz.
Fieldwork
An integral part of the geography curriculum, fieldwork allows pupils to see in reality what they have learnt in the classroom, build teamwork skills and lean valuable data collection techniques. Fieldwork this year includes:
- Year 7: Chester
- Year 8: Peak District
- Year 10: Varies with the nature of the Controlled Assessment
- Year 12: River Clwyd, Snowdonia, Manchester
The department also offers a bi-annual overseas fieldwork programme. In 2008 over 40 girls visited Sorrento and the Bay of Naples in a joint venture with the Classics Department. A tour to Iceland, land of fire and ice, is planned for 2010.
Click here to see photos of recent fieldwork
Results
The department’s results for 2009 were excellent. At GCSE 94% of candidates gained an A* or A grade. At A2 100% gained an A or B. Several girls went on to read Geography at their first choice university.
