Bishop Perowne

Church of England College

(01905) 746800
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Geography

Curriculum Intent

The Geography department seeks to stimulate students’ curiosity, interest and enjoyment in the world around them. It cultivates a sense of location, knowledge of places and a respect for differing cultures. It encourages open, enquiring minds that are aware of contemporary issues. The teaching of geography builds on students’ existing knowledge of places, concepts and skills. A broad curriculum encompasses contemporary topics within the subject as well as the more familiar traditional geography topics.

Pillars
Curriculum Map
Key Stage 3

Year 7
We start the term with geographical skills to ensure students have a basic grasp of the key skills that will be required to access the Key Stage 3 curriculum. Year 7 students will enhance their knowledge of the world, whilst advancing their map skills, graphical analysis and ability to evaluate solutions to geographical problems. They will focus on issues linked to rivers, weather and climate, global ecosystems and the impact that human activity has on the environment. These will be studied using examples at local, national and global scales. Students will also examine global differences in development and how the physical features of a country affect human activity. All students are invited to participate in an enrichment activity in the Malvern Hills during the summer term to assess examples of human activity and conservation in this local Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Year 8 
The Year 8 curriculum will continue to develop students’ understanding of a range of contemporary issues facing the world. Students will develop their understanding of global development and how this links to economic activity and use of resources. Students will enhance their understanding of the natural processes, such as plate tectonics and coastal systems, which shape the landscape in different locations. Students will explore the interactions between these natural and human processes at national and global scales and investigate how these may change over time.  All students are invited to participate in an enrichment activity in the local area to examine contemporary geographical issues in Worcester.
Year 9
The Year 9 curriculum will consolidate students’ understanding of the physical processes that shape the landscape through the study of glaciation. Students will examine the growth of China as an economic superpower and the implications that this has for society and the environment at national and global scales. Students will extend their knowledge of the evidence, causes and impacts of climate change. This analysis of the impacts of climate change, and our response to them, is covered in detail in year 9 as some students may not study Geography after year 9. Students will examine the future of urban environments in different parts of the world, which will consolidate aspects of development and population studied earlier in Key Stage 3. Students will also examine contemporary urban challenges of housing and transport issues in the local area and how the local area is likely to change in future.

Key Stage 4

Year 10

Year 10 students will follow the OCR B GCSE Geography for Enquiring Minds syllabus.   The course will build on key concepts and processes linked to the physical and human environment that are covered in Key Stage 3. Students will study the global issues of dynamic development and global hazards at greater depth, with key terminology and specific case studies used to exemplify content covered. Students will also deepen their understanding of the issues facing the UK in the 21st Century and examine how distinctive river and coastal landscapes within the UK are created and how they interact with human activity.  Students will develop an enquiry approach to learning through fieldwork in the local area and enhance their data handling skills. 

Year 11 

Year 11 students will continue the OCR B GCSE Geography for Enquiring Minds syllabus. More detailed information on the course can be found via this link: GCSE – Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1) – J384 (from 2016) – OCR. Students will study the sustaining ecosystems and resource reliance topics prior to preparing for their GCSE examinations. There are several occasions where students re-visit prior learning and develop their geographical skills, including fieldwork that will enable them to become successful geography students that are able to study geography at Key Stage 5. 

Examinations and Assessment

Enrichment and Extra-curricular Opportunities

Enrichment

All students take part in a local fieldwork to examine contemporary geographical issues in Worcester. Year 7 students visit the Malvern Hills to study the impact and management of human activity in an AONB. Year 8 students investigate the impacts of population growth in the local area and the impact this has on service provision and housing. Year 9 students examine transport issues in the local area.
In key stage 4, students complete one physical and one human fieldwork investigation as prerequisite of the GCSE course. Students complete a river study at Shell Brook, a tributary of the River Avon, to investigate the changing characteristics of a river as it moves downstream.  They will also compare the environmental and social impacts of traffic in different areas of Worcester.
Extra-Curricular
The Geography department has established links with Worcester Wildlife Trust (WWT) to raise student awareness of environmental sustainability in the local area. Opportunities to participate in an eco-club and school-based projects with WWT are available to KS3 students.
The Geography department collaborates with the Science department to lead the Duke of Edinburgh Award for Year 10 students. This involves expeditions at local and national scales that draw on knowledge and skills taught in Geography.

Subject Resources

Description Type
Geography: Exam Board (OCR) Resources  External Link
Geography: School Revision Guide  School PDF Document

Our Staff

Mr M Chauhan

Teacher

Mrs L Johnson

Teacher

Mr J Manship

Teacher

Mr O Stackhouse

Subject Head

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