Geography

KEY STAGE 3:

The theme for Y7 Geography is the arrival of friendly aliens who wish to gather what knowledge they can about planet Earth:

• Aliens Arriving: for example, surface features of the earth.
• Alien Landing Sites: for example, basic surveying / mapping of the school site.
• Our Planet: for example, theories about the origin of Planet Earth.
• Where do humans live and what do they do there? For example, settlement origins, shapes, functions and hierarchies.
• The aliens discover rivers: for example, the River Dove and management of Dovedale.

In Y8 Geography we expand this basis through more in depth studies of ‘physical’, ‘human’ and ‘environmental’ topics. For example:

• Geography of Coasts: such as waves, tides, processes and landforms.
• Geography of Fashion: such as New York as a world fashion capita and Delhi as a textile manufacturing city.
• Population, Resources, Sustainability.
• Climate and Biomes.
• China’s Place in the World.

In Y9 Geography we consider key physical and human interactions, for example:

• Concepts of risk, risk perception, magnitude, frequency, primary and secondary impacts.
• Plate Tectonic Hazards
• Disease Risk
• Production, Consumption, Imports & Exports
• Jamaica’s Economy & Development

KEY STAGE 4:  

Eduqas GCSE Geography B: C112QS

The GCSE course has three examined components:

Investigating Geographical Issues: covers Theme 1: Changing Economies, Theme 2: Changing Environments and Theme 3: Environmental Challenges.

Problem Solving Geography: covers a previously unknown geographical issue and expects use of knowledge and understanding from all three themes to come to a justified conclusion.

Applied Fieldwork: tests ability to plan, organise, collect and sample data, process and present data, analyse patterns / trends, draw conclusions and evaluate outcomes. This is based on two pieces of fieldwork undertaken during the course, usually one day in the Peak District during Y10 and one day in around a large settlement during Y11.

At Ockbrook the content has been divided into ‘chunks’. Many of these consist of ‘half’ topics allowing an introduction to each during Y10 and a more in-depth follow up during Y11.

• Chunk A: Climate
• Chunk B: Ecosystem Processes
• Chunk C: Climate Change
• Chunk D: The Hydrological Cycle & River Processes
• Chunk E: Flooding
• Chunk F: Development
• Method Fieldwork
• Chunk G: Global Cities
• Chunk H: Water Resources
• Chunk I: Urban & Rural Change
• Concepts Fieldwork
• Chunk J: Coastal Landscapes
• Chunk K: Coastal Management
• Chunk L: Weather Hazards
• Chunk M: Ecosystems Under Threat
• Chunk N: Desertification

Post 16:

Eduqas A level Geography: A110QS

The A level course is assessed using three written examinations and an individual geographical investigation. The required content covers a wide range of topics with slightly more focus on ‘human’ geography than ‘physical. Topics include:

• Coastal Landscapes
• Changing Places
• Global Systems: Water and Carbon Cycles
• Global Governance of Migration
• Governance of the Earth’s Oceans
• 21st Century Challenges
• Tectonic Hazards
• Development in an African Context
• Energy Challenges & Dilemmas

Within each topic students are required to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of places, environments, concepts, processes, interactions and change, at a variety of scales;
• apply knowledge and understanding in different contexts to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues; and
• use a variety of quantitative, qualitative and fieldwork skills to investigate, interpret, analyse, evaluate, construct arguments and draw conclusions.

The individual investigation gives students the opportunity to plan and undertake a research project into a geographical issue of their choice, usually within their local area.

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