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Geography
Geography
Head of Department: Mr Green
Teachers: Mr Conroy, Mrs Covus & Mr Gill
Our Vision for Geography at Burnham Grammar School
Intent
Our intent is to deliver a broad, balanced and relevant geography curriculum that inspires and enthuses each BGS student. Our aim is for each student to develop geographical knowledge of varying natural and human environments, including the interactions between them, spanning the entire globe. As a result, we will increase understanding of different groups of people from a diverse range of places, including their lifestyles, potential viewpoints and economic circumstances (Caring Individuals). We will, where possible, provide fieldwork opportunities for students in each key stage, as well as developing their decision-making and problem-solving skills through a range of current, real-world issues (Responsible Learners). This is because fieldwork brings learning in the classroom to life and it enables students to conduct their own investigations. Finally, we will equip students with the knowledge, skills and understanding to tackle climate change and create a more sustainable future, in both the local and wider community (Active Citizens, Prepared for their Future).
Implementation
We encourage our students to be Responsible Learners through a broad range of teaching methods. All lesson resources are shared by every member of the department, and we use a combination of current examples and well-established case studies in our teaching. Extension and challenge tasks are set routinely to ensure that students are challenged to make, and learn from, mistakes. There are lots of opportunities for students to develop skills. Activities such as debates, presentations and discussions enable students to consider different viewpoints, become more confident, and communicate effectively with their peers (Prepared for their Future; Happy, Healthy and Safe). Our topics cover a wide range of places, reflecting our diverse student body and enabling every student to expand their knowledge and horizons. We use both formative and summative assessment techniques to support student progress, including common tests in each year group. Alongside this, termly book checks are used to ensure that students take pride in their work and become increasingly responsible and independent. Students regularly respond to their feedback and evaluate their own learning (Responsible Learners).
Impact
Through the geography curriculum, students enjoy studying the subject (Happy, Health and Safe). They are enthused by the topics and lessons, and recognise the relevance to their own lives and futures. As a result, many students see the value of studying it beyond KS3. Geography is a popular subject at both GCSE and A-level. Students develop a broad range of skills by studying the subject, including synoptic skills, and they can make links between geography and their other subjects. At all key stages, students are academically successful in geography and go on to achieve very good results at GCSE and A-level (Responsible Learners). Through their experiences in geography, students are aware of the wide range of opportunities available to them as result of studying the subject (Prepared for their Future).
Wider Curriculum Opportunities
- KS3 – visit to a local ecosystem/ natural environment. Investigating the links between people and the environment.
- Year 9 – fieldwork in Stratford-upon-Avon (May). Investigating the impacts of tourism.
- Year 10 – fieldwork in Littlehampton and Worthing (June). Investigating coastal processes and management.
- Year 11 – fieldwork in London (October). Investigating the contrasts between two different parts of the city.
- Year 12 – four days of fieldwork in the UK (residential) (May). Investigating regeneration and coastal management in contrasting places.
- Year 13 – four-day fieldtrip to Iceland (March). An experience to celebrate seven years of geography.
Please see the KS3/KS4 & KS5 Curriculum Map for Geography below :
KS3/KS4/KS5 Geography Curriculum Map
Please see further information about each of the KS3, KS4 and KS5 Geography Curriculum below :
KS3 Geography Curriculum & Topics
Year 7 : Topic 1 - Reading Maps; Topic 2 - Introduction to Africa; Topic 3 - The Lungs of the Earth; Topic 4 - Expanding Cities; Topic 5 - Water Worlds and Crowded Coasts.
Year 8 : Topic 1 - Understanding Climate Change; Topic 2 - Introduction to Asia; Topic 3 - Expanding Populations, Diminishing Resources; Topic 4 - Tectonic Hazards; Topic 5 - Ice Worlds; Topic 6 - The Geography of the USA.
In Key Stage 3, we introduce key concepts in geography and enable students to study a diverse range of places around the globe. In year 7, after we introduce maps as a fundamental aspect of geography in the first term. We then do a short introduction to Africa, before using this continent to explore a range of key concepts and issues in both physical and human geography. These include tropical rainforests, rapid urbanisation, rivers and crowded coastlines. In year 8, we introduce the year by exploring perhaps the defining issue of our age: climate change. In a similar vein to year 7, we then introduce Asia. This vast and diverse continent then becomes the key 'thread' for us to study rising populations, declining natural resources, tectonic hazards and ice worlds. We finish the year with a contrasting look at the USA.
KS4 Geography Curriculum & Topics
We follow the AQA GCSE specification:
Year 9 : Topic 1 – Ecosystems/ Tropical Rainforests; Topic 2 - Tectonic Hazards; Topic 3 - A City in a Low-Income Country (LIC) – Rio de Janeiro; Topic 4 - River Landscapes; Topic 5 – Geographical Skills; Topic 6 - Cold Environments.
Year 10 : Topic 1 - Weather Hazards and Climate Change; Topic 2 - Resource Management and Energy Security; Topic 3 - The Economic World, Closing the Development Gap and Nigeria; Topic 4 - Coasts.
Year 11: Topic 1 – Urban Change in a UK City ( London); Topic 2 – Resource Management and Energy Security.
The students who choose Geography for GCSE, and we have historically been one of the most popular options subjects, have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork outside of school in each year. The current year 9 students visit Stratford-upon-Avon in May to explore the impacts of tourism in that locality, as well as getting to do a 'trial run' of GCSE fieldwork skills. Year 10 complete a trip to Worthing and Littlehampton on the south coast to look at coastal processes and coastal management. Year 11 complete urban fieldwork in London, comparing two very different areas: the King’s Road in Chelsea and the Shepherd’s Bush Market area.
KS5 Geography Curriculum & Topics
We follow the Edexcel A-level specification:
Year 12 (Physical Geography): Topic 1 - Tectonic Hazards; Topic 2 – Coasts.
Year 12 (Human Geography): Topic 1 - Globalisation; Topic 2 - Regenerating Places
Year 13 (Physical Geography): Topic 1 – Water Insecurity; Topic 2 – Carbon Cycle and Energy Security.
Year 13 (Human Geography): Topic 1 – Superpowers; Topic 2 – Health, Human Rights and Intervention.
Geography is a popular choice at A-level, with two classes and over 35 students taking the subject each year in the past two years. In March, over twenty of the cohort are going on a four-day visit to Iceland, which will hopefully be a great way to say goodbye to Geography at Burnham Grammar School. A new four-day residential is being planned for the summer term of year 12, providing our students with the opportunity to test out their theoretical understanding of the subject in the real world. It also supports them in writing up their non-examined assessments (NEAs), worth 20% of the A-level.