Geography

Curriculum Information

To study Geography is to explore the world around us. Geography helps us understand where and how people live. It helps us understand the worlds physical features and also includes the study of people and cultures that inhabit our world.

Studying Geography can provide students with good skills and a strong base for lifelong learning that employers will admire:

• The ability of work as a team
• Good communication skills
• Problem solving and logical reasoning
• Environmental and social awareness
• Managing information
• Flexible thinking

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 the revised curriculum is being actively followed, pupils  become more active learners by participating in group work and presenting their work to the class through multimedia presentations. A variety of active learning strategies are implemented to help pupils improve on their thinking skills and problem solving. Pupils  also assessing their own work along with the work of others and evaluating what they have learnt throughout the unit taught.

Geography is taught to all pupils Yr8 – Yr10 for 3 periods a week. Pupils are provided with all teaching and learning materials.

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

Year 8

• Introduction to Geography and places
• Mapskills
• Settlement
• Weather including a fieldwork element  – A Study of a schools’ microclimate.

Year 9

• Coastal Processes, Landforms and Management including a fieldwork element – A study of Coastal Processes along Murlough Bay, Co. Down
• Population and Migration
• River Processes, Landforms and Management
• Tourism in Kenya

Year 10

• Natural Hazards – Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Tsuamni
• Development and Globalisation
• Natural Environments – Ecosystems and Biomes – Tropical Rainforests, Hot Deserts

GCSE

GCSE Geography is optional at GCSE level. The Geography department follows the CCEA GCSE Geography Specification. Pupils are provided with all teaching and learning materials.

GCSE Geography Curriculum Overview

There is no controlled assessment (coursework) – instead students complete a fieldwork investigation based on a river study. The data collected is used in the completion of the Unit 3 examination (20%).

 A level Geography

The Geography Department follows the CCEA GCE Geography Specification. Geography at A Level provides an opportunity for students to build upon the knowledge and skills obtained at GCSE.

The CCEA specification is modular in structure (3 AS modules and 3 A2 modules). In both AS and A2 units, students will have the opportunity to study fundamental aspects of both Physical and Human Geography.

The topics studied are as follows:

Past Geography Trips

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Departmental Staff