KS3 Overview

Year 7 Topics

Core Geography
Development
Weather and Climate
Resources
Rivers

Year 8 Topics

Coasts
Globalisation
Tectonic Hazards
Contemporary Urban Areas
Ecosystems

Assessment Details

Students will write a variety of answers on each topic ranging from simple definition questions to extended essay answers. There is also a summative end of topic test for each topic which includes a section from a previous topic to retest previous learning.

Fieldwork Opportunities

Local fieldwork on microclimates and ecosystems. 

Homework

Homework is set once a week in accordance with the homework table (teachers will try where possible to set/ collect homework on the same day to help support student’s organisation and routine). 

KS4 Overview

Year 9 Topics

The Living World-Rainforests
The Changing Economic World- Development and UK
UK Physical Landscapes- Coasts

Year 10 Topics

Urban Issues and Challenges- Birmingham
The Challenge of Natural Hazards- Earthquakes and Tropical Storms
The Changing Economic World-Uneven Development and Nigeria
UK Physical Landscapes- Rivers

Year 11 Topics

Urban Issues and Challenges- Rio de Janeiro
The Challenge of Natural Hazards- Extreme Weather and Climate Change.
The Challenge of Resource Management-Energy
The Living World-Hot Deserts

Assessment Details

Students will write a variety of answers on each topic ranging from simple definition questions to extended essay answers. There is also a summative end of topic test for each topic which includes a section from a previous topic to retest previous learning. The end of topic test consists of a knowledge quiz followed by GCSE exam questions from past papers.

GCSE EXAMS-End of year 11 AQA exam board:
www.aqa.org/geography/GCSE
Paper 1 (Physical Geography x3 topics) 1 hr 30
Paper 2 (Human Geography x3 topics) 1 hr 30
Paper 3 (Skills paper) 1 hr 15
www.aqa.org/geography/GCSE/pastpapers

Fieldwork Opportunities

River’s fieldwork (Carding Mill Valley) and Human studies-Kings Norton/ local area.

Homework

Homework is set once a week in accordance with the homework table (teachers will try where possible to set/ collect homework on the same day to help support student’s organisation and routine). Most homework involves students using the quiz question sections from their Knowledge Organiser (one for each topic) to learn what they have worked on in lessons.

Why Study GCSE Geography?

Geography is an excellent subject to study at GCSE as it continues to explore interesting and topical issues affecting the world today. It equips students with a wide range of skills that are transferable across subjects such as literacy, numeracy, analysis, and evaluation. Geography compliments all of the other subjects’ students are required to study at GCSE because it is the only subject that merges both the Arts and Sciences. GCSE students learn a range of interesting physical and human topics, alongside developing strong written and communication skills which will benefit them in all other aspects of their lives.

KS5 Overview

Year 12 Topics

Contemporary Urban Issues
Carbon Cycles
Changing Places
Coasts

Year 13 Topics

Finish Coasts
Global Systems and Global Governance
Hazards

Assessment Details

Students will write a variety of answers on each topic ranging from simple definition questions to essay answers. There is also a summative end of topic test for each topic which includes a section from a previous topic to retest previous learning. The end of topic test consists of A Level past paper questions.

A LEVEL EXAMS-End of year 13 AQA exam board:
www.aqa.org/geography/A-level
Paper 1 (Physical Geography x3 topics) 2 hr 30
Paper 2 (Human Geography x3 topics) 2 hr 30
NEA Coursework project (20% of total grade)
www.aqa.org/geography/A-level/pastpapers

Fieldwork Opportunities

Local fieldwork in Bournville and Birmingham City Centre/ West Midlands areas in connection with NEA requirements.

Homework

Homework is set once a week (teachers will try where possible to set/ collect homework on the same day to help support student’s organisation and routine) and students are encouraged to do wider reading/ revision in their own time.

Why Study A Level Geography?

Like at GCSE level, Geography is an excellent subject to study at A Level as it continues to explore interesting and topical issues affecting the world today, particularly useful when students are writing personal statements, applying for universities, colleges, and jobs in scenarios where they are expected to know and be able discuss current affairs.  It equips students with a wide range of skills that are transferable across subjects such as literacy, numeracy, analysis, and evaluation. Skills such as producing their NEA project prepares students for writing a dissertation at university. Geography compliments all the other subjects’ as it is the only subject that merges both the Arts and Sciences. A Level students studying the Sciences often find Geography both compliments and balances out the content of their course. Geography students learn a range of interesting physical and human topics, alongside developing strong written and communication skills which will benefit them in all other aspects of their lives and future careers.

Careers in Geography

There has never been a more important time to use geographical knowledge and skills to pursue a career. None of the changes and challenges facing the UK and the world in the 21st century, including climate change, energy security, migration, urbanisation, and globalisation, can be properly understood, let alone tackled, without geography. This is the discipline that connects the natural and the human, the local and the global and in doing so, enables us plan sustainably for the future. Whether your future career lies in the environmental sector, business, education, the natural or social sciences, the media, in geospatial industries or in travel, geography opens a range of choices for your future work and career. There is no career sector where Geography is not relevant from HR and administration, finance, medicine, politics, sciences and the service sector, Geography qualifications meet the requirements of most jobs that exist today.

Jobs and careers in Geography (please see link for further information)