Geography

Students find that the study of Geography develops their ability to express themselves effectively in writing, helps them to understand and express statistical information, and to design, carry out and present complex projects and investigations.

Teachers in the Department are experts in their subject, and work hard to develop students' core levels of knowledge and understanding. Regular fieldtrips from Year 7 are popular with students and help to extend learning beyond the classroom learning and test theories and concepts in real-world scenarios.

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Students are taught Geography for four periods a fortnight and receive 30 minutes of homework every week. Each order period includes a major assessment, comprising classroom tests and extended project work, and there is a 90-minute formal examination at the end of Year 7. In Year 9 the Department starts teaching the GCSE specification, allowing GCSE topics to be explored in greater depth than would otherwise be possible, while still meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum.

Year 7

Connections and Crickley Hill fieldwork. Map skills. UK and Europe. Plate tectonics. Coasts.

Year 8

Middle East. Superpowers – China. Superpowers – USA. Weather and climate. Hydrology and River Churn fieldwork

Year 9

Food supply. Development and Zambia case study. Global issues. Ecosystems – rainforests and polar

Students follow the OCR GCSE specification and are taught for five periods a fortnight with two 30-minute homework tasks set every week. The course includes a fieldwork trip to Lulworth Cove in the summer term of Year 10 to explore the the formation of the landforms on the Jurassic Coast. Three examination papers are sat at the end of Year 11.

Year 10 and 11

The UK in the 21st century. Tectonic hazards. Urbanisation and urban challenges. Weather hazards. Changing climate. Distinctive landscapes, UK coasts. Fieldwork, Gloucester Docks and Lulworth Cove. Geographical skills. Rivers. Decision making exercise.

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Geography remains a popular higher education option for students, many of whom go on to study the subject at Russell Group universities. The Department follows the Eduqas A Level Geography specification, and pupils are taught for 10 periods in a fortnight. Each teacher sets one homework assignment a week, plus additional reading. Students enjoy a residential fieldwork trip to Snowdonia in Year 12, and three exam papers are sat at the end of Year 13, along with an Independent Investigation Non-Examined Assessment.

Entry requirement

Grade 6 GCSE Geography.

Year 12

Glaciated landscapes. Changing places. Global governance – migration and oceans. Global systems – water.

Year 13

Global systems – carbon. 21st century challenges. Tectonic hazards. Energy challenges and dilemmas. Development in an African context. Extensive Key Stage 5 reading lists are available.

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In addition to the many local and UK-based educational visits and fieldwork trips which support learning in the classroom, the Geography Department likes to offer students the opportunity to travel overseas, with trips tending to occur alternate years. Destinations in recent years have included China, Iceland and Italy.

Head of Geography

David Gowler [email protected]