Share This Page

Geography

Back

Key Stage 3

Geography is a dynamic and ever-changing discipline, and the Key Stage 3 curriculum at Nicholas Breakspear reflects this. Students will explore and learn about a range of up-to-date and relevant topics. All three elements of Geography will be taught: physical, human, and environmental. Students will study how these elements interact to create complex situations. Throughout Key Stage 3, students will be encouraged to and become confident in exploring their own opinions surrounding real-world issues, whilst grounding their understanding and thoughts in key geographical fundamentals.

In line with the National Curriculum, the teaching of Geography at Nicholas Breakspear aims to ensure that:

Students develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes
Students understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time
Students are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes
- interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Geography

GCSE Geography builds on the knowledge gained at Key Stage 3 as well as introducing a number of other key topics. GCSE Geography further develops the ability to understand complex interactions and the growing interconnectedness of our current world, whilst increasing knowledge about Geographical fundamentals.

Awarding Body: AQA

Subject Contact: Miss C Lewis

Course Outline

Living with the physical environment:

The challenge of natural hazards
The living world
Physical landscapes in the UK

Challenges in the human environment:

Urban issues and challenges
The changing economic world
The challenge of resource management

Geographical applications

Issue evaluation
Fieldwork

Assessment

Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment

Written examination, 1 hour and 30 minutes - 35% of overall GCSE Grade.
This paper is worth 88 marks and comprises of multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response and extended prose.

Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment

Written examination, 1 hour and 30 minutes - 35% of overall GCSE Grade.
This paper is worth 88 marks and comprises of multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response and extended prose.

Paper 3: Geographical Applications

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes - 30% of GCSE Grade.
Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam. This paper is worth 76 marks.

Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose.

This will be accompanied by a field study trip looking at human and physical geography.

Career Progression

Geography is highly respected by employers, in university and college. You can use Geography to help you enter or practise a wide range of careers, such as surveying, farming, banking, estate agency, map-making, town planning, Civil Service, travel and tourism and nature conservancy. As well as preparing you for future jobs and education, Geography helps you to understand issues in the world around you.

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

Key Stage 5

A-Level Geography

Course Content

Area of Study 1: Dynamic Landscapes

Tectonic Processes and Hazards

Coastal Landscapes and Change

Area of Study 2: Dynamic Places

Globalisation

Diverse Places

Area of Study 3: Physical Systems and Sustainability

The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity

The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security

Area of Study 4: Human Systems and Geopolitics

Superpowers

Health, Human Rights & Intervention

Non-Examined Assessment: Independent Investigation. The purpose of this non-examination assessment is to test students’ skills in independent investigation. Students are required to undertake an independent investigation that involves (but which need not be restricted to) fieldwork.

Learning Methods and Assessment

	Content	Marks	Time	Weighting
Paper 01	Physical	105	2hr 15	30%
Paper 02	Human	105	2hr 15	30%
Paper 03	Synoptic Investigation	70	2hr 15	20%
Paper 04	Independent Investigation	70	Coursework	20%

Expectations of Students

You will be expected to put in a lot of time outside of lessons to read around the subject and take extra notes. You must keep up to date with key events and changes in the world. You will be expected to form opinions and be confident in expressing them both orally and in written work.

Careers Prospects

Geography can be used in a wide range of careers, either by using specific geography skills – for example; town planning, park ranger, traffic work in local government – or by virtue of showing that you have a trained analytical mind (such as insurance, journalism, marketing, and public relations). It is a qualification valued by all Universities and Colleges.

Awarding Body: Edexcel