Geography

‘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.

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.

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