Geography

Geography is a large department with six classrooms within a dedicated building for Geography and History.  The department currently consists of six teachers, who teach across the Key Stages. 

All students study Geography in KS3 and have the option of choosing either Geography or History at GCSE. All year groups have four periods a fortnight. At GCSE the topics continue to be a very popular choice with students. 

KS3 Curriculum Overview (Years 7-9)

Throughout KS3 we explore and analyse local, national and worldwide geographical issues, giving our students a developed understanding of both physical and human geography that gives students the chance to experience them out in the field.

In the Year 7 curriculum students are introduced to geography through the ‘Awe and Wonder topic’ within the first term, gaining experience of new places. In term two students discover the continent of Africa where they use locational geography, map skills and integrating GCSE skills. To finish the year students look at Gosport and the local community in depth, allowing pupils to gain an appreciation of the local community. 

In Year 8 students continue their journey around the world starting with Oceania and SE Asia, focusing on development, natural hazards and ecosystems, with a focus on the rainforest of Indonesia and our reliance on them. In term two, pupils move onto studie India and Bangladesh with key for use on building their knowledge from the previous term and focussing on urban trends, resource management and the physical Geography of rivers. In term three, students focus on the UK, local communities and coastlines. 

The Year 9 students begin the GCSE curriculum but looking at the Living world. A topic based on ecosystems where we look at tropical rainforests and hot deserts. We study the Amazon rainforest and Thar desert. In the second term students move onto resource management where they look into the uses of food, water and energy within the UL and in depth enquiry into Water and how it is used around the world.  

KS4 Curriculum Overview (Years 10-11)

At GCSE we work with the AQA exam board, studying the new 1-9 GCSE.

The topics covered are:

Paper 1 – Living with the Physical Environment – 35% of the GCSE.

• Challenge of natural hazards – tectonics and climatic.
• The Living World – ecosystems to include rainforests and hot deserts.
• Physical landscapes in the UK – coasts and rivers.

Paper 2 – Challenges in the Human Environment – 35% of the GCSE.

• Urban issues and challenges – urbanisation and sustainable living.
• The changing economic world – development, trade and aid.
• The challenge of resource management – UK resources and global water issues.

Paper 3 – Geographical applications – 30% of the GCSE.

• Issue evaluation – a decision making exercise based on pre-released material.
• Fieldwork – all students will be required to carry out field work and use this as a basis
  for their exam.