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