Geography
"Geography is the subject that holds the key to our future".
The geography curriculum at TWS is designed to be ambitious through the incorporation of a range of trends, patterns and case studies to support an investigation into how people and environments adapt and respond to the changes and processes that shape the world we live in. We teach a wide variety of physical and human topics, from world development and urbanisation, to climate change and natural hazards.
In their geography lessons, students will develop a wide range of essential transferable skills, including; maps and fieldwork, interpretation of stimulus material, and through the promotion of literacy and numeracy. Through the use of relevant case studies, our students are able to build upon their place and location knowledge, while also developing an understanding and tolerance of different perspectives. Our students are able to be creative and independent learners, with the tools and skills they need to think critically and geographically about the world around them.
The knowledge and skills required for KS4 is developed throughout our KS3 curriculum. We implement this through high quality lessons that promote a love of learning and a curiosity about the world, on both local and global scales. The content provided is challenging and engaging for all learners, yet made accessible through the means of adaptive teaching strategies. We also provide subject-specific teaching strategies, such as map skills, and the embedding of exciting, up-to-date case studies.
KS3 Geography
In Year 7 and 8 students our aim is to make the subject as relevant and stimulating as possible. We constantly relate our topics to real world examples and refer to current news, issues and events taking place around the world. We cover a wide range of topics and embed geographical and GCSE skills into these topics in preparation for those students who want to go on to study the subject at GCSE.
GCSE Geography
Assessment Objectives:
- AO1: Demonstrate knowledge of locations, places, processes, environments and different scales (15%).
- AO2: Demonstrate geographical understanding of: concepts and how they are used in relation to places, environments and processes; the interrelationships between places, environments and processes (15%).
- AO3: Apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues to make judgements (35%, including 10% applied to fieldwork contexts).
- AO4: Select, adapt and use a variety of skills and techniques to investigate questions and issues and communicate findings (25%, including 5% used to respond to fieldwork data and contexts).
Examination board and course: AQA GCSE Geography (8035)
Assessment: 100% examination based
- Paper 1: Living with the physical environment – 35% of overall GCSE
- Paper 2: Challenging in the human environment – 35% of overall GCSE
- Paper 3: Geography skills and application – 30% of overall GCSE
Topics studied:
- Paper 1: Natural and tectonic hazards, weather hazards, climate change, ecosystems, tropical rainforests, hot deserts, costal landscapes and processes and river landscapes and processes.
- Paper 2: Urban issues and challenges, Nigeria as a newly emerging economy, changing economic world and challenges of resource management.
- Paper 3: Geographical skills, human field work, physical field work and pre-release material (issued 6 weeks prior to Paper 3 exam).
Revision websites:
BBC Bitesize for GCSE: https://www.bbc.com/education/examspecs/zy3ptyc
S-Cool: https://s-cool.co.uk/gcse/geography
Revision World: https://revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/geography
Student testimonials:
“Geography is great because you learn new skills and new facts every lesson.” Will, year 7.
“I look forward to my geography lessons because my teacher helps me learn about the world around me.” Molly, year 8.
“I really enjoyed learning about natural hazards and the impacts that they have had on people and the environment.”- Millie, year 10.
“My teacher makes the learning relevant and uses current trends to put into context what is going on in our everyday lives” – Tenecia, year 11.
Subject Lead - Mrs C Gilbert (tws_admin@swale.at)