Geography

The focus of the curriculum for Geography at SST is to ensure students are well informed, well equipped and prepared for the challenges of the modern world. Geographers at SST will possess an inquisitive mind, who utilise skills developed in enquiry to question the things they are exposed to in the classroom and beyond to contextualise the world around them.

SST students will:

• Develop a deep understanding of the world’s physical processes and how landscapes have developed over spatial and temporal scales.
• Foster intrigue about the world around them and the wide variety of cultures and cultural norms across the seven continents.
• Garner an understanding of how the physical and human world are intertwined and interconnected, such as how natural hazards can have devastating impacts in contrasting areas across the world.
• Learn, develop, and apply a wide range of geographical skills to a variety of settings, such as graphicacy, map skills, statistical skills, and fieldwork skills.
• Appreciate the importance of the natural world at a variety of scales, from small-scale ecosystems to wide ranging biomes and the interdependence of the organisms that survive and thrive there.
• Be equipped with the knowledge for an every changing 21^st Century, being prepared for human challenges such as the everchanging Geopolitical landscape we live in and physical challenges including the potential consequences of climate change and global warming.
• Have a deep understanding of the global interconnectedness of the world on social, economic, and political connections between different countries and regions.
• Be empathetic towards how various global issues disproportionately impact countries of contrasting levels of development, and what can be done to combat global inequalities.
• Be literate in technological advances in the subject, including proficiency in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), satellite imagery and other tools to represent and analyse spatial data in an innovative fashion.
• Understand their place in the world and have an awareness of how their actions can make positive contributions to an ever-changing world.

During KS3, students are exposed to grounding key concepts within the discipline of Geography to prepare themselves for the challenge and rigour of KS4 and KS5. Our curriculum is constantly under review as to ensure it is up to date and relevant to today’s world. It has been planned carefully as to ensure it encompasses a wide range of disciplines, concepts, skills, content, and regions of the world.

A Geography curriculum at SST could span 7 years if our students elect to study it at KS4 and KS5. The knowledge students cover in the first 3 years of the course has clear links to further study and many opportunities to showcase where Geography can take them into their future.

KS3

During Year 7, students are given the essential tools of the subject with a term studying key map and enquiry skills before learning about the dynamics of how countries populations have changed over time. This initial topic is a perfect introduction into the concept of global development. Following this, students learn about the threat that the coast can have to places in the UK such as Holderness, before focussing in on their first global region learning about the wonders of the Middle East, before ending Year 7 with a study of Africa and an introduction to Globalisation and Development, the former particularly key with clear links to the KS5 curriculum.

Moving into Year 8, students begin to increase the challenge with a study on Natural Hazards, particularly Geological hazards, often a popular unit with students. We then take a tour of Russia and the challenges and opportunities of their physical and socio-economic geography, before understanding the threat of climate change and the impact that glacial activity has had on landscapes. Students end their studies in Year 8 with a focus on water on the land, and the erosive power of river landscapes.

Year 9 we move into our transition year where students begin to be exposed to content that will prepare them for potential GCSE studies, beginning with a look at desert landscapes and a study on global resource management. Students then further develop their understanding of global geopolitics with a study on the concept of superpower geographies and conflict as they begin to appreciate the complex relationships countries of the world have had historically and geographically.

KS4

Students study the AQA 8035 course art GCSE, which continues to build and develop on the core content they had learned at KS3.

Course specification: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/geography/specifications/AQA-8035-SP-2016.PDF

Course overview 

Assessment 

1 Physical Geography Exam – 1 hour 30 

1 Human Geography Exam – 1 hour 30 

1 Skills Exam – 1 hour 30 (exam assesses fieldwork and will also have a pre-release of material released 12 weeks before the exam usually around March 19th) 

KS5

As we move towards a full 7-year cohort Geography will be subject offered at SST or another school in the VIAT on our campus attaining an A Level Qualification.

To see the Curriculum Topics, please click here

We understand that Geography can be taught to various levels at KS1 and KS2, therefore we are very focussed on ensuring students are given opportunities to bridge the gap between their learning and also be exposed to where their studies can take them as they move towards KS5.

KS2 to KS3

By beginning with a baseline topic with regards to Geographical skills, we can ensure that students all start with the base level required to be able to “do” Geography throughout their course. By studying the KS2 National Curriculum, we have been able to build a first year that gives students grounding knowledge that they will continue to revisit and build upon in later years of study.

KS3 to KS4

Students are consistently spoken to about where what they are studying has clear and direct links to the GCSE course. Furthermore, students are provided with grounding threshold concepts through KS3 such as the concept of erosion which they are build on into GCSE.

During Year 9, students study some content that is more challenging and is also aligned to the GCSE specification, such as global resource management. This exposure to content gives students an insight into what study at GCSE will consist of. Furthermore, students are frequently signposted into career opportunities the subject has.

KS4 to KS5

During the GCSE course, students are given an awareness of how learning Geography at A Level and at university level extends from the GCSE syllabus. Links with Sixth Form students at other schools on the campus allows discussion with GCSE students so they can find out more about aspiration.

Beyond KS5

Students will be exposed to career talks from a wide range of companies and disciplines in Geography. Students will be given guidance on different disciplines with Geography and Earth Science and the variety of University courses which exist within the subject, as well as information about potential apprenticeships that may exist within Geography as a field.