The Geography department at TWGGS has developed a strong curriculum, promoting active teaching across a wide range of topics. From the outset, we focus on relevant issues and challenges facing the world today, as well as developing a secure skills base for pupils. At Key Stage 3 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, presenting extreme weather events, carrying out decision making exercises on development issues and evaluating research sources as part of their gap year project.
Year 7
Our aim is to embed a range of core skills and develop the knowledge needed to explore our fascinating world.
What is Geography? - We begin Year 7 by developing core knowledge and skills through map work and the study of settlements.
Oceans - We look at our use of oceans, the threats to them and our solutions to these.
Geography of shopping - 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.
Weather and climate - Pupils investigate types of weather and the impact of climate and global warming.
Cold environments - A study of ice caps and glaciers and how they affect Earth, together with a study on humans in cold environments.
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 aims to promote a sense of wonder about the world.
Population issues - Pupils investigate population pressures and migration, as well as megacities and slums.
Tropical rain forests - We look at the exploitation of these precious resources and solutions, together with a study of indigenous populations.
Food - The global food industry and how to support the world’s population in a sustainable way.
Living with water - 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.
Deserts - We study what it is like to live and travel in extreme environments.
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.
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.
Tourism - In this topic we look at the world of tourism. A Gap Year project is produced allowing pupils to discover new places, investigating the human and physical features and understanding the practicalities of travel.
Natural hazards - Pupils study the natural events of earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and landslides and what it is like to live with these.
Development and globalisation - We explore the development gap, emerging powers and superpowers, globalisation and development solutions.
Water - Pupils study human and physical interaction with water, pollution and both large and small-scale management schemes.
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 is a three-day field trip based in the local area. Fieldwork is an essential part of Geography and this trip allows pupils to study a range of coastal, rural and urban environments covered in the exam, and to collect appropriate data to use in Paper 2.
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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