Geography
Our aim: Geography is about ‘Making connections over time and space’ and learning about ‘people and the world around us’. We are dealing with big issues and concepts that impact people at a variety of scales. We want our learners to connect with these issues. We aim to foster a sense of curiosity and the desire to problem solve by asking big questions like; ‘how can we ensure that everyone in the world has access to water?’ and ‘how can the world deal with the threat of climate change?’
Curriculum Overview
In Year 7, 8 and 9 Geography follows a place and location-based focus and uses the Big Questions to build knowledge and curiosity. Students are expected to understand the world we live in at a variety of scales, identifying and explaining processes and links that create our human and physical environments
In Year 10 and 11 students follow the AQA GCSE specification which is separated into three components: the challenges in the physical environment, the challenges in the human environment and geographical applications. The human and physical aspects of the course enable students to have a rich understanding of the world around them at a variety of different scales, whilst also enabling students to engage with contemporary challenges that the world is facing today.
Year 12 and 13 aims to deepen this element of thinking like a geographer. The key concepts of scale, place, development, change, processes and sustainability underpin what it is to be an A level geographer. The AQA A Level course is split into three parts; Human Geography, Physical Geography and a Geographical Enquiry based upon fieldwork skills.
Year 7 Topics
Term 1-2: Europe. What shapes Europe as a place? Why are continents important? Why are there a range of climates across Europe? What problems does Europe face and how can we overcome them?
Term 3-4: North America. How does movement impact North America? Where does North America become South America? What impact would a supervolcano have on North America? Why is migration an issue in North America?
Term 5-6: South America. What makes South America unique? Are capital cities always the richest cities? Why is the Amazon River constantly changing? What are salt flats and should they be mined?
Year 8 Topics
Term 1-2: Antarctica. How important is Antarctica in the quest to be sustainable? What lies beneath the ice of Antarctica? What is the most significant threat to Antarctica? Who is responsible for protecting Antarctica?
Term 3-4: Africa. What risks does Africa face? Can a continent be rich and poor? Why does Africa suffer from hazards? How developed is Ghana?
Term 5-6: Asia. How is Asia changing? Why does China have the most and least populated parts of Asia? Why has China experienced rapid development?
Year 9 Topics
Term 1-2: Australia: What makes Australia different to the other continents? Who are the Australian people and where do they live? How will Australia be affected by climate change?
Term 3-4: The Almighty Dollar. What is globalisation? How is the world interconnected through the economy?
Term 5-6. Tectonic hazards. What is hazard risk? How do plate margins move? How do impacts of earthquakes change in rich and poor countries?
Year 10 topics
Term 1-2: Weather hazards and climate change. Resource management. How can we meet the world’s demand for water?
Term 3-4. UK landscapes coasts and rivers. Why does the UK have changing physical landscape? Urban issues and challenges. Why is Rio de Janeiro growing so fast?
Term 5-6. UK Urban issues. How can we overcome the challenges facing Bristol? Hengistbury Head Fieldwork. What are the impacts of coastal processes at Hengistbury Head?
Year 11 topics
Term 1-2. Living world ecosystems. How are rainforest and deserts changing? Urban fieldwork – What are the impacts of regeneration on Bristol city centre?
Term 3-4. The changing economic world. How can we measure development? How developed is Nigeria? How is the UK economy changing?