Subject Overview

You know where you are with Geography: a subject that deals with the complex and varied interactions between humans and the physical world. Geography takes you on a journey to discover the planet’s natural systems and the ways that humans have attempted to manage, influence and even tame them. The newspapers are often full of doom and gloom: too many people, increased floods and storms, global poverty. Geography examines and analyses the evidence behind the issues and allows students to reach a balanced, informed view of the major issues facing the 21st century and suggest their own potential solutions. Geography prepares young people for the world they will soon inherit.

 

Year 7

What is Geography? – exploring the links between physical and human geography in the local area. Maps and mapping – developing the essential skills for reading maps, atlas and other geographical information systems. It’s your planet – the story of our planet which explores the scientific theories that explain its creation and changes. Amazing Asia – investigating the cultural and physical diversity of the world largest continent. People Everywhere – global population is increasing exponentially, how will countries respond? Where we live – exploring the growth of towns and cities in the UK.

 

Year 8

Weather and Climate – investigating how weather affects us and the possible impacts of climate change. Industry – The UK’s industrial landscape has changed dramatically, we explore the drivers behind these changes. Violent Earth – investigating the hazards posed by earthquakes and how people cope with them. UK and Europe – 28 countries and counting, political geography within the UK and Europe. Flooding – how will countries deal with an increased risk of flooding due to changing climates? The ‘BRICs’ – Brazil, Russia, India, China: the race to be the next global superpower.

 

Year 9

Africa and International Development – getting behind the issues affecting the world’s poorest continent. Urbanisation – an enquiry into the changes taking place in Plymouth. Ice on the Land – understanding the physical processes, landforms and challenges of living in mountain environments.

 

GCSE (AQA Specification A) Year 9 students begin this course during the Spring Term

Unit 1

The Coastal Zone – should we attempt to control nature’s erosive force? Water on the Land – examining the role of rivers in shaping the landscape, their uses and the threats they pose. The Restless Earth – how do different countries deal with tectonic hazards?

Unit 2

Population Change – 9 billion by 2050: the challenges of a growing population. Tourism – investigating why tourism is the world’s fastest growing industry. The Development Gap - one billion people without access to clean water, how do we help them?

Unit 3

Fieldwork investigation

 

GCSE (AQA) New Specification from September 2015 first examined in 2018 Living with the Physical Environment

• The Challenge of Natural Hazards
• Physical Landscapes in the UK
• The Living World Challenges in the Human Environment
• Urban Issues and Challenges
• The Changing Economic World
• The Challenge of Resource Management Geographical Applications
• Issue Evaluation 9
• Fieldwork AS Geography (Edexcel) Unit 1: Global Challenges
• The World at Risk - climate change: is this the biggest natural hazard we will face?
• Going Global – exploring the acceleration of globalisation and the impacts on people and the environment. Unit 2: Geographical Investigations
• Crowded Coasts – investigating the pressures and conflicts that arise as the human population continues to settle in coastal areas.
• Rebranding Places – examining why rebranding is necessary across the UK and the successes and failures of projects such as the 2012 Olympics.

 

A2 Geography (Edexcel)

Unit 3: The Contested Planet

Energy Security – energy distribution is uneven. What lengths will a country go to, to secure its supplies? Water Conflicts – exploring the potential for conflict with increasing water shortages. Biodiversity Under Threat – examining the human use and management of the planet’s limited resources. Bridging the Development Gap – the gap between rich and poor continues to grow, can it be reduced? Superpower Geographies – the rise and fall of global economic giants as they attempt to exercise global power. The Technological Fix – can global issues be solved with the development of technology?

 

Unit 4: Geographical Research

Tectonic Hazards – examining the risk of tectonic hazards to people and property