The Geography department at TWGGS aims to inspire pupils to be active global citizens, ready to make their mark on the world of tomorrow. We hope to develop inquisitive, critiquing minds who push through stereotypes and challenge misconceptions about the world around them.
Our challenging and stretching Key Stage 3 curriculum develops pupils’ sense of place and scale within Year 7, tackles the overarching concept of sustainability in Year 8, and prepares pupils for the next step by exploring concepts of inequality and vulnerability in Year 9. We aim to develop pupils who seek to find solutions not just problems. Fieldwork is a key ingredient, developing learning outside the classroom and introducing skills beneficial at Key Stage 4 and beyond. Trips include a study of Bluewater’s sphere of influence in Year 7 and sustainable coastal management and marine processes at Pett Level in Year 8.
GCSE Geography is an exciting, relevant, issues-based course, which allows pupils to investigate the world’s varied places and environments, from the teeming life of rainforests to booming megacities, and to see geographical patterns at varying scales.
Those who opt to study Geography at A Level will find the course both fascinating and relevant. It incorporates a wide range of contemporary global issues that are of vital importance to modern society.
The topics are regularly updated to reflect global issues and the nature of assessment. Assessments are designed to enhance pupil skills and to meet the needs of all learners, stretching and challenging pupils. Examples include pupils designing their own sustainable meals, testing hypotheses related to earthquake disasters, carrying out decision making exercises on development issues and applying fieldwork data to develop data presentation, analysis and conclusions.
Year 7
Our aim is to embed a range of core skills and develop the knowledge needed to explore our fascinating world.
Making Sense of Our World - We begin Year 7 by developing core knowledge of the UK and global places, and building skills by introducing the concepts of place, space and scale. This is then applied through a country investigation.
Settlement and map work - We further develop the skill base by enhancing map skills and the study of settlement. The topic includes an introduction to short answer question technique and resource interpretation.
Geology - A mini unit that covers the rock cycle, geological time scale, the impact of geology on the UK landscape and how geology relates to broader geographical studies.
Weather and climate - Pupils investigate types of weather, and the causes and impact of climate change and global warming. The topic includes an introduction to putting forward a balanced evaluation of an issue.
Urban change - We study the potential death of the high street and shopping in a globalised world. This topic includes fieldwork skills based on a study at Bluewater.
Cold environments - A study of ice caps and glaciers and how they affect Earth, together with a study on humans in cold environments.
Asia rising - A chance to explore the geography of a region through a selection of economic, cultural and environmental issues in South East and East Asia.
Year 8
This year we really expand our horizons to study topics that provide a valuable education of topical issues. The pupils get the chance to look at key problems in greater depth. The topics aim to promote a sense of wonder about the world.
Population issues - Pupils investigate population pressures and migration, as well as megacities and slums. It provides the opportunity to investigate the challenges and opportunities in a rapidly developing megacity.
Ecosystems - We explore a range of global biomes before focusing on the resource exploitation and solutions in tropical rainforests. The topic is assessed through a decision making exercise that develops pupils' resource interpretation and evidence based judgement skills.
Food sustainability - Pupils undertake a wide-ranging investigation of the most pressing issues that challenge the global food industry, and innovative solutions to these challenges, examining how to support the world's population in a sustainable way.
Rivers and coasts - Pupils investigate physical processes, flooding and coastal management.
Coastal field work - Work begun in Term 4 is supplemented by coastal field work at Pett Level and individual project write-ups focusing on data presentation skills and analysis.
Pushing the boundaries - A series of lessons on soundscapes, deserts, exploration, the solar system and places you will never visit to expand locational and place knowledge.
Year 9
This year continues to explore topical issues on a global scale. New skills are introduced and existing ones developed so pupils are in a strong position to succeed at GCSE. We aim to enable a smooth transition from Year 9 into Year 10.
Extreme weather - Pupils study the main causes and impact of major events, using examples to explore tropical storms, tornadoes, heat waves, El Niño, wildfires and droughts.
Natural hazards - Pupils study the natural events of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and landslides and what it is like to live with these.
Poverty and power - In this topic we delve into globalisation, inequality, issues surrounding poverty in the UK and in developing and emerging nations, the characteristics of power and geopolitics.
Energy exploitation and the Middle East - An insight into the physical and human geography of a region rich in culture and resources (with a particular focus on oil and gas), with a chance to develop an understanding of the complex conflicts and challenges affecting the Middle East and North Africa.
Water - Pupils study human and physical interaction with water, pollution and both large and small-scale management schemes, including an investigation into Day Zero and the geography behind sink holes.
Edexcel specification for GCSE Geography BThe specification contains contemporary topics and focuses much on our own impact on the environment; it is highly engaging and provides pupils with valuable skills for A Level and the world of work. The dedicated and very enthusiastic department supports pupils at every step.
There are two field trip days, developing physical geography survey skills by investigating coastal processes and management in Eastbourne and Birling Gap, and human skills by exploring the success of regeneration in Stratford, the Westfield Centre and Olympic Park in London.
Paper 1
Global Geographical Issues
1 hour 30 minutes examination: multiple-choice, short and extended answers (8 marks maximum on a single question).
94 marks
37.5% of GCSE
Hazardous Earth
The world’s climate, the causes, impact and management of tropical cyclones, tectonic hazards in contrasting locations.
Development Dynamics
Global inequality with an in-depth study of India as an emerging power, its people, environment and its relationships with the wider world.
Challenges of an Urbanising World
Causes and challenges of hyper-urbanisation, focusing on the colourful and energetic city of Mumbai.
Paper 2
UK Geographical Issues
UK’s Evolving Physical Landscape
The varied physical environment of the UK with a focus on coastal change and conflict and river processes and pressures.
UK’s Evolving Human Landscape
The changing way we live, with a focus on the dynamic city of London.
Geographical Investigations
The fieldwork enquiry process in contrasting physical and human locations.
Paper 3
People and Environment Issues
1 hour 30 minutes examination: multiple-choice, short and extended answers (8 marks in Section C and 12 marks in Section D, based on a choice of potential decisions.)
64 marks
25% of GCSE
People and the Biosphere
Global ecosystems, their importance to human wellbeing and how we modify them.
Forests Under Threat
Tropical rainforests and the taiga and how we successfully manage the threats to them.
Consuming Energy Resources
Supply, demand, access, use and security of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Making a Geographical Decision
Using a resource booklet that draws on ideas from units learned.
Edexcel specification for A Level Geography The A Level course offers pupils the chance to discover more fully our ever-changing environment and aims to encourage the development of skills essential for university and the world of work, in a stimulating and varied manner. It appeals to those who have a sense of discovery and curiosity, and enjoy investigating the remarkable world we live in.
A Level Geography requires an enquiring mind. Wide background reading is essential. Lessons are a mixture of research, presentations, geographical skills and investigations using a variety of sources. Pupils will learn to collect and interpret data, analyse information and produce coherent, well-argued essays and reports; they should develop an understanding of values and opinions in order to be able to argue their case and debate the issues.
There is a residential field trip in the spring term of the Lower Sixth, where pupils learn and practise the field skills needed for the Investigative Geography component. We encourage membership of the local Geographical Association, attendance at geographical lectures and subscription to the Geography Review.
Dynamic Landscapes
2 hours and 15 minutes written examination
105 marks
30% of the A Level
Content Overview
The study of physical landscapes, contextualised through tectonic processes and hazards, and the threats facing our evolving coastal landscapes, will give an understanding of the core processes which drive change on the Earth’s surface. Topical issues are investigated through the study of the water cycle and water security, the carbon cycle and energy security, and climate change and the planet’s future.
Dynamic Places
The study of the changing human influences on the world around us, investigating the causes and consequences of globalisation on different people and environments, and how we reimage and rebrand places. Global issues are explored through the study of geopolitics, the influence of superpowers and the reasons for shifting political and economic power. There will be the opportunity to study global health, human rights and intervention in humanitarian crises.
Geographical Debates
70 marks
20% of the A Level
This paper allows learners to explore in depth some of the most challenging and dynamic issues of the 21st century, linking the range of human and physical topics studied.
Non-examination assessment
Investigative Geography
Independent Investigation
Internally assessed and externally moderated.
In this component learners undertake an independent investigation linked to an aspect of the specification which appeals to their intellectual curiosity. It is designed to encourage a deeper knowledge and understanding whilst developing a number of geographical and study skills relevant to Higher Education or the world of work.
Future Prospects:
The A Level provides a significant bridge between the topics studied at school and university. As a facilitating subject, it leads on to a diverse range of degree courses for both BA and BSc qualifications, and many go on to further academic study or use their skills in conversion courses. Geography’s strength is its breadth of subject matter, which makes it particularly appealing to future employers. Geography graduates pursue careers in fields including the environment, media, public service, finance, marketing, law and politics.
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