Students will investigate Geography through 9 units across their 2 years in KS3. Each unit will carefully develop and enhance a range of skills that allow them to become effective geographers and learners in general.
Year 7: Students commence with a study of the where they will sharpen their knowledge of where places are in the world and begin to understand the essence of Geography being everywhere. The following unit deals with Map Skills, arming the students with the key skills that will support them in their journey of thinking like a Geographer. Year 7 then move onto World Development issues to gain an appreciation of the inequalities that exist in the world and an understanding of how to manage these issues globally. Following on, students then move on to looking at the World of Work, looking at the development of industry over time, and how globalisation has changed the world that we live in. Finally we conclude with a unit on Rivers where students develop an understanding of the fundamentals of physical Geography focusing students upon the natural landscape and mankind’s’ continuous battle against nature.
Year 8: Students will explore a range of more complex units, commencing with learning about Coasts, focusing on the processes and the features they form. A focus is given to coastal erosion and management, linked to named examples in the UK. Year 8 will then continue with Unstable Earth considering the fascinating, yet deadly events of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. There is a further emphasis on their understanding of how mankind is intertwined with natural processes. This unit is followed by the issue of Population Change when they will explore the causes and effects of a staggering 7 billion people living on our planet, before examining the impacts of this on the UK by looking at the important issue of immigration. Weather and Climate is the penultimate unit, and students will be expected to understand the factors that influence the weather and how climate change is having a global impact. Their Year 8 studies conclude with a unit about Ecosystems by looking at the opportunities and challenges associated with rainforests and deserts.
Year 9: Year 9 begin the year by focusing on one of the most important contemporary Geographical issues, Climate Change. They will explore the causes, evidence for, and the impacts of climate change, linking this to a variety of named places globally, and nationally. They will then consider the options that we face in reducing our carbon footprints, and adapting to life in a changing world. Students will then move on to Life in an Emerging Economy, tackling the issues associated with developing countries, and rapidly expanding cities. They will look at the distribution of emerging economies, and focus on the processes that occur within these complex locations. Finally students will focus on Resource Management, taking on board the challenges of providing water, energy and food to the UK population, and the 7 billion globally. They will consider the sustainability of the options ahead of us as populations continue to boom.
Homework: Homework will be set regularly. Various tasks will be set, but the main focus will be the Knowledge Organisers and Geography Revision Booklets which students will use to learn key content in preparation for testing and exams. In addition the homework may include either follow up work done in class, or to improve students' geographical 'general knowledge'. Students may be expected to use the internet or the library to research a topic, and homework will take many forms from preparing presentation work for assessment to writing articles, investigating ideas or researching places and events.
Assessment: Teacher assessments will be set every term and will test a variety of skills. These will be used to assess progress and help determine the end of Key Stage 3 level of achievement. Students may be given time both in lessons and at home to complete the assessments and deadlines must be met. Students will also sit Mid Year and End of Year Assessments which will be set on previous topics studied.