Geography

Curriculum Sequence

Please click on the icons below to view the curriculum sequence for each Key Stage.  The curriculum sequence will show you what students should know and be able to do in the subject, alongside the key ‘tier 3’ subject specific vocabulary that your child needs to understand to allow them to access the deeper curriculum.  The curriculum sequence also lists the ‘key assessment questions’ each term/half term that your child will be asked during assessments to help your child to prepare effectively, as well as the ‘disciplinary rigour’ which explains the methods, conventions, rules and practices that are specific to that subject.

Curriculum Intent

KS3

Where would anyone be without Geography? It is the subject that binds all others together.  We want our students to have a love of the natural world and the people in it.  We also want them to become the mechanics of the world and understand the ongoing complex interactions of both Physical, Human and Environmental Geography. The intention is that students know what is happening around them locally, regionally, nationally and globally. We want them to become responsible global citizens, to gain a sense of place and understanding in an ever-changing environment. We also aim to provide each student with a range of cultural capital experiences throughout the key stages and to equip students with life skills that will benefit them through their life and into the world of work. Our intent is to extend learning to outside of the classroom through Microsoft Teams and extra-curricular activities such as virtual experiences, gamification, news articles and fieldtrips to Chester Zoo, the North Wales coast and Stafford. The intent of the Geography department and it curriculum is to support, to promote and enrich the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of our pupils.

‘Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future’ Michael Palin

KS4

Geography curriculum at KS4 will develop and improve upon the skills learned at KS3. The pupils will study a range and even balance of both human and physical Geography topics. This will give them a broad knowledge of the issues facing our society and their role in the world. The KS4 Geography curriculum is designed to encourage students to think critically about the world, their local area and humanity’s role in it. Through links with other subjects the aim is for skills to be embedded and applied consistently so that learners can tackle a range of geographical problems with confidence. Students will be given regular formative and summative assessment and the opportunity to study exemplar responses. The Geography departments aim is for students to be reflective and review their learning in order to promote independent study, to identify their weakness’, to improve on them and to prepare them for the next transition into further study or employment.

Living in the Physical Environment Challenges in the HUMAN Environment Topics
Challenge of Natural Hazards Urban Issues & Challenges
Living World Changing Economic world
Physical landscapes of the UK Challenge of Resource Management

 

Curriculum Implementation

The department has three experienced staff with each over 10 years of teaching experience. All the teachers have the same level of ambition for all students and the Geography department uses a range of resources and skills to support disadvantaged learners. A range of students have learning passports that include implementation strategies to support learning. One of the strategies that assists many SEND children is the use of Knowledge organisers and topic glossaries. The department publishes much of its work on a shared area (TEAMS), so students have the ability to download the relevant material and use for independent study. As students progress through the Key stages, they are encouraged to submit work electronically using The Teams/ emails as well as in the written form necessary for examination practice.

End of Course Assessment

GCSE

PAPER 1 Living with the PHYSICAL Environment Topics: PAPER 2 Challenges in the HUMAN Environment Topics: PAPER 3 Geographical Applications:
Exam Time:  1 ½ hrs

 

88 marks in total

 

Including 3 marks for SPaG

(Spelling, punctuation & grammar)

 

35% of GCSE mark

 

Question styles:

Multiple choice; Short answers; calculations;

open response;

extended written argument with evidenced point & informed conclusions.

Exam Time:   1 ½ hrs

 

 

88 marks in total

 

Including 3 marks for SPaG

(Spelling, punctuation and grammar)

 

35% of GCSE mark

 

Question styles:

Multiple choice;

short-structured answers;

cloze exercises,

photo interpretation/ description, interpretation of maps on

different scales,

data responses,

longer extended writing.

Exam Time:   1 ¼ hrs

 

 

76 marks in total

 

Including 6 marks for SPaG

(Spelling, punctuation and grammar)

 

30% of GCSE marks

Section A :  Challenge of Natural Hazards

Section B :  Living World

Section C:

Physical Landscapes in the UK

 

Section A :  Urban Issues & Challenges

Section B : Changing Economic world

Section C: Challenge of Resource Management

Section A: Issue Evaluation on Pre-Release material

Section B: Fieldwork on 2 compulsory human & physical topics

A-level

Component 1: Physical Geography Component 2: Human geography Component 3: Geography fieldwork investigation
Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

120 marks

40% of A-level

prose

Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes

120 marks

40% of A-level

3,000–4,000 words

60 marks

20% of A-level

marked by teachers

moderated by AQA

Section A: Water and carbon cycles

Section B: Coastal systems and landscapes

Section C: Hazards

Section A: Global systems and global governance

Section B: Changing places

Section C: Contemporary urban environments

Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content.

Career Links

        

St Thomas More has its very own dedicated careers team.  To find out more about careers at St Thomas More, please click here. 

 

Tips and Advice

There are a whole host of books to read and TV programmes to watch at each Key stage. The geography department’s favourites for each key stage are listed below. If you are intrigued to find out more then visit the department’s Geography at the Movies club or your Microsoft teams.

KS3 KS4 KS5
Book: Journey to the River Sea Book: The Kite Runner Book: Prisoners of Geography
Film/TV: The Impossible Film/TV: Slum Dog Millionaire Film/TV: Behind the curve

 

The departments favourite local places to visit to experience some geography in action is well, everywhere, as Geography is literally all around you. A walk around Park Hall or Hem Heath woods is Geography. A trip to festival park or a football game is Geography. Come and talk to the geography department about your trips or places you have visited or if you like we can give you some suggestions.

Further Information

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/as-and-a-level/geography-7037

https://www.rgs.org/

https://www.geography.org.uk/home

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239087/SECONDARY_national_curriculum_-_Geography.pdf

 

Subject Leader Information

For more information or if you have any questions please use the contact details below.

Mr J Steele – Subject Leader jsteele@stmca.org.uk

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