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.
KS3
‘Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future’- Michael Palin
Geography is the subject that binds the world together. Through investigations of the Physical and Human interactions, we are able to examine the changes to the world in which we live through location and place foci. These interactions, focusing particularly on Natural Hazards, Development, Population, Changing UK landscapes and Biomes give students at Key Stage 3 a love of the natural world and the people within it. At St Thomas More Catholic Academy, the departments passion for the subject, with 4 experienced members of staff, hope to provide a curriculum that offers a wide ranging and interesting curriculum; providing students with the knowledge and skills to pursue an interest at higher levels of study. At Key Stage 3, we aim to provide an offer for students that benefits the whole person, with opportunities of study both inside and outside the classroom. Utilising technology to support students at every step of their learning journey, whilst offering activities to put their skills and understanding into practice through extended fieldwork opportunities. As a department, our overall intent for the curriculum is to provide students, at its core, a love of geography, whilst offering insights to local, regional, national and global scales to enrich the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of every pupil we teach.
KS4
At Key Stage 4 we continue to build on and extend the skills, knowledge and understanding learnt at Key Stage 3. Following the AQA specification, students are able to examine again both human and physical interactions within a Geographical context. At GCSE level we aim to develop students understanding of the world around them, giving a deeper sense of place and location through national and global studies of London & Lagos, The UK and Nigeria respectively. The GCSE course has 3 main strands of study; Physical, Human and Fieldwork, that culminates into an issue analysis investigation. As a department, we are committed to our overall intent to develop, from Key Stage 3, students’ appreciation and enthusiasm for Geography, which prepares them for both further study and the wider world. As Geographers, students should be well-rounded, global citizens ready for any challenge.
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: | Environment Topics: PAPER 3 Geographical Applications: |
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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 |
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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. |
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.
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.
KS3 | KS4 | KS5 |
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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 |
Further Information
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