All pupils follow a structured curriculum at Key Stage 3 in two periods per week for Years 7 to 9. If chosen as a GCSE (Y10 and 11) the option it is taught in three periods a week.

Pupils will develop their communication skills through group work and team exercises, as well as developing investigative skills through a variety of field trips.

In Year 7 pupils will study:

• Our place in the world
• Hydrology
• Natural hazards: earthquakes and volcanoes
• Primary economic activities: Cliff’s Farm Enquiry

In Year 8 pupils will study:

• Europe and Asia map skills
• Geology
• Coastal processes
• African LIC: Kenya
• Preston CBD Enquiry

In Year 9 pupils will study:

• World Map, Latitude and Longitude
• Weather, Climate and Ecosystems
• China
• Glaciation
• Energy Resources

General Information

The AQA Specification is followed.

Geography is taught by specialist teachers in three 50 minute lessons per week.

The department is well-resourced with excellent access to ICT facilities.

Qualification Achieved

The qualification will be graded on a nine-point scale – where 9 is the best grade.

Unit/Papers

Paper 1 –  Living with the Physical Environment 35% (1 hour 30 minute exam)

● Tectonic Hazards

● Weather and Climate

● Rivers and Coasts

● Ecosystems and Tropical Rainforests and Hot Deserts

Paper 2 –  Challenges in the Human Environment 35% (1 hour 30 minute exam)

● Urban Issues and Challenges

● Changing Economic World

● Resource Management with a focus on water

Paper 3 –  Geographical Application 30% (1 hour 15 minute exam)

● Issue evaluation –  a decision making exercise based on a pre-release resource booklet issued 12 weeks before the exam

● Fieldwork –  two local fieldwork studies that investigate a human topic and a physical topic.  The methods and processes used in the completion of fieldwork will be assessed in this written
examination

Geographical skills will be examined throughout each of the three papers.

We are proud of Geography’s inclusion within the English Baccalaureate and its importance in the holistic development of students.  This exciting and relevant course studies the subject in a balance framework of physical and human themes and investigates the link between them.