Geography: Key Stage 3

Year 7

Our year 7 curriculum is designed to introduce students to key geographical concepts including sustainability, interdependency and cultural diversity so that they are able to understand and appreciate the world in which we live. Embedded within lessons, students will be taught geographical skills such as the use of maps and grid references. The first term allows students to learn about the origins of geography as a discrete subject and how the way maps are drawn can affect our perception of countries. Students then examine the changing patterns of weather at different scales starting at our school before applying their knowledge to the UK and the world. Students then explore the physical processes of glaciation, rivers and coasts and their impacts on shaping our local environment.  Making comparisons between countries, people and experiences is a key part of the geography curriculum and students have the opportunity to do this by looking at the human and physical features of Africa and the rich diversity that this continent offers. Fieldwork is embedded throughout the year 7 curriculum and our final topic allows students to develop their understanding of their local environment and of the fieldwork process by investigating pollution in our local area.

Year 8

In year 8 we focus on world issues starting with students examining the geological concept of the Anthropocene and appreciating the many different viewpoints from leading experts on this topic. Students are then able to develop both their physical and human understanding of the world by considering whether the earth is running out of natural resources. Sustainability is a key concept within geography and this is reflected in the examination of the importance of Antarctica as a continent and whether development of its natural resources should be allowed in the future. Building upon the foundations of year 7, students in year 8 will look at the wider world studying how and why the population of the Indian sub-continent is changing and making links to the growing global impact of Asia. Students then complete year 8 assessing whether humans can ever live safely with the risk of earthquakes and volcanoes using a range of current examples to arrive at their decision.

Year 9

By the start of year 9 students have had the opportunity to look at the UK and the wider world, and the design of the curriculum for year 9 builds on this wider understanding by looking in depth at a variety of environmental and ethical topics.  We start the year looking at the impact of humans on the contrasting natural environments of the tropical rainforests and polar biomes including the possible futures for such habitats. Students are then provided with the opportunity to apply their geographical understanding to current issues by examining the geopolitics of Russia and how its location on earth affects its ability to develop. Students then explore the impact that globalisation is having on their own lives and on others using the example of China before assessing the key reasons for the differing scales of development across the world and whether equality can ever be achieved. Students complete year 9 exploring the very topical subject of the Middle East and the diversity of this region including the impacts that conflicts can have on its people and on its ability to develop further.