The study of geography looks at the interactions between the human and the physical world and helps to prepare pupils for roles as global citizens.  It explains how landscapes were formed and how humans impact and interact with these landscapes. We aim to build on pupils own experiences at all scales from personal to the global.

At KS3 and 8 have one lesson per week and year 9 have 2 lessons per week. 

At KS4 pupils have 3 lessons per week.  We currently have 3 year 11 Geography class, 4 year 10 Geography classes and Leisure and tourism GCSE class in year 10 and 11.

As part of the Geography curriculum trips and visits are very important and we are aiming to do a trip or get an outside speaker in for each year group in KS3 and take pupils on a residential trip in year 10.

KS3

In Geography at KS3 a range of Human and physical topics are studied.  Within the subject we aim to give pupils a wide understanding of global issues and teach transferable skills that pupils can apply to other subjects.
We also aim to help pupils to understand Geographical processes through geographical enquiry and thinking skills. We aim to take pupils out of the classroom to learn where possible and help them with Graphicacy and visual literacy by encouraging them to use sources and map and graphs to gather evidence.
There are a number of key concepts that underpin the study of geography.  These are place, space, scale, interdependence physical and human processes, environmental interaction and cultural understanding and diversity. 
Over the 2 years in KS3 pupils study a rage of topics from the traditional Earthquakes and Volcanoes to more skills based topics such as crime and world sport.
Click here to see the KS3 overview 

One year 9 have chosen their options we take those pupils that have chosen Geography to the River Chess in Rickmansworth to carry out a Geographical investigation to introduce them to GCSE Geography.  See trips for more information.

KS4

Geography helps you to understand the interactions between humans and their physical environment. The Geography GCSE aims to give you a wider knowledge of the world around them and teach you transferable skills that can be used in other subjects.

Geography is a well recognised qualification in industry as you learn skills that can be applied in many situations.  Many geographers go on to jobs in conservation, town planning, accountancy, law, and many more.  It also makes up part of the English Baccalaureate.
At KS4 year 11 currently study the Edexcel A.  This consists of 3 units and 1 piece of controlled assessment.
The 3 units are

• Geographical Skills and Challenges
• The Natural Environment
• The Human Environment

The piece of controlled assessment that they carry out is a coastal study on Swanage Bay.
The pupils why will be in in year 11 up to 2013 will sit modules in June of year 10 and January and June of year 11.  If pupils are due to be in year 11 after 2013 they will sit all the exam papers at the end of year 11 and the modular approach is being removed. 

Year 12 Geography

In year 12 pupils follow the AQA Geography Specification.  This consists of learning 4 units and completing a fieldwork module.  The units studies are;
Rivers, floods and management
Population change
Coastal environments
Energy issues
Pupils then sit 2 papers in year 12.  A skills based paper worth 30% of the AS level and a knowledge based papers worth 70% of the AS level.

Pupils have attended a field trip to a River to carry out an investigation.  To see the photos click on the events section.

Trips

Year 7 Farm trip

In year 7 pupils go on a trip to Rushall farm in Reading.  Here they learn about diversification in farming and get to see many animal and learn about lambing. 
Click here to see photos

Year 9 river trip

In June the year 9’s that chose Geography went on a trip to the River Chess in Rickmansworth.  While they were there they measured the speed and depth of the river at different points, the size of the pebbles and looked at what creatures were present in the river.
Much fun was had by all and when the pupils returned to school they wrote up a practice piece of controlled assessment on it to see if Rivers flow fastest on the outside of the bend.
Click here to see the photos

Year 10 Swanage trip

For their Geography coursework year 10 went on a residential trip to Swanage in Dorset to study if coastal defences are effective at Swanage bay.  The pupils took beach transects, measured pebble size, took photos, drew field sketches and did lots of walking!

They will be completing their coursework on this in September.

Click here to see the photos.