The St. Benedict’s Geography department have a vision and a passion to help students develop a sense of awe and wonder in the dynamic and diverse world we live in. Through the study of a wide range of physical and human environments, we help pupils to discover answers to questions they may have about the world around them and the people that live on it.

“Geography is not only up-to-date and relevant, it is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world’s current problems boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them. Global warming, sustainable food production, natural disasters such as earthquakes and tsunamis, the spread of disease, the reasons for migration and the future of energy resources are just some of the great challenges facing the next generation of geographers.”

Michael Palin, CBE

What Will You Do - KS3?

Within each topic in KS3 pupils will be encouraged to develop their understanding of the physical and human processes that shape the environment and to think critically about the issues that face planet earth. Using maps is an integral part of learning about new places and pupils will learn to use maps, visual images and new technologies (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information.

Year 7 (2 hours a week)

  • What is Geography?
  • Geography Skills
  • Weather and Climate
  • Asia
  • Rivers
  • My local area

Year 8 (1 hour a week)

  • Africa
  • Urban Worlds
  • Ice Worlds

Year 9 (2 hours a week)

  • The Risky World
  • Wild Weather
  • Hot Deserts
  • Ecosystems and Tropical Rainforests
  • Managing resources

Assessment

Pupils in KS3 will have an assessment passport in geography for every topic. Students complete their important assessed work in this passport which tracks their progress across each topic and allows geography teachers and pupils to undertake important dialogue to improve achievement. We encourage pupils to show these passports to parents at the end of every topic.

What Will You Do - KS4?

AQA GCSE Geography 8035 September 2016 and beyond

How will you do it?

The new GCSE Geography consists of 3 written exams.

PAPER ONE: Living with the physical environment

Section A– The challenge of natural hazards

Section B– The living world

Section C– Physical landscapes in the UK: UK physical landscapes, River landscapes in the UK and Glacial landscapes in the UK

PAPER TWO: Challenges in the human environment

Section A– Urban issues and challenges

Section B– The changing economic world: Economic development, quality of life, global development gap, changes in the UK

Section C– The challenge of resource management

PAPER THREE: Geographical applications

Section A – Issue Evaluation (37 marks)

Section B – Fieldwork (39 marks)

Field work is a compulsory element of GCSE Geography. Students need to undertake two geographical enquiries, each of which must include the use of primary data, collected as part of a fieldwork exercise. Fieldwork must take place outside the classroom and school grounds on at least two occasions. We are planning on doing this field work in The Lake District during the summer term of Year 10.

 

What will you achieve?

The qualification is available at one level covering grades 1 – 9.

You will also have developed the knowledge, understanding and skills for further study at IB/AS/A2 Level and beyond.

For further information please contact Mrs J Watson, Head of the Geography Department