Why study Geography?
The world is constantly changing and as Geographers we explore, question and come to understand the complex dynamics of this change. The Geography department at St. Josephs Catholic College not only examines the geographical issues and enormous challenges of today but also how we can all work together towards a more sustainable future.
The Geography course is broad, diverse and interesting. It utilises and develops a wide range of skills and allows for a thorough investigation of topics. The skills developed in Geography are an asset to a wide range of employers who recognise the importance of the subject beyond school life.
Key Stage 3 Geography
Throughout years 7, 8 and 9 key geographical skills are learned and developed. We develop map skills in year 7 and the traditional OS map work is built upon in an engaging and interactive way with the revolution of GIS and satellite imagery. This is continued throughout Key Stage 3 and developed further at GCSE and A-Level, honing skills and exploring them in a greater level of detail.
Included in Geography at Key Stage 3 are; Weather, Settlement, Rivers, Limestone scenery, Plate tectonics, Globalisation, Fair Trade and Development. We also examine and build up detailed case studies of a variety of locations including; The British Isles, Italy, Kenya and Egypt. Through working with such a diverse range of issues and locations, pupils develop a wide range of subject knowledge and learn how to apply various skills accordingly.
We place great value on fieldwork and truly believe out of classroom learning is a fundamental and integral part of Geography. Field trips include a visit to Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire to examine settlement and to understand why this particular site was chosen to build the Abbey. We also visit Malham in the Yorkshire Dales to look at the physical Geography of the area, examining river processes and features of limestone scenery. This trip also allows a chance to visit a world famous National Park on our doorstep and gain an appreciation for the beauty and need for conservation – an area developed in the GCSE course.
Key Stage 4 Geography
We offer GCSE Geography for pupils in Year 10 and Year 11 following AQA Specification A. The course is assessed by the completion of two exams, one of which tests the human aspects and one the physical aspects of Geography. These two exams are equally weighted and count for 75% of the total mark, the final 25% coming from a 20 hour piece of coursework based on a local fieldwork investigation.
The course is designed to inspire pupils and in doing so taking their interest and understanding to the next level. The fundamental elements involve examining topics and issues from a variety of angles, considering opinions and being able to describe and explain not only what is happening but more importantly why.
The topics studied for the Human paper are: Development, Changing Urban Environments and Tourism. These aspects of Geography are not only very interesting but also extremely relevant in today’s society and new information is available almost weekly in the media to back up our classroom studies, providing pupils with a good grounding on the importance of current affairs. The elements covered for the Physical paper are; The Restless Earth, Coastal Processes and Living world. We focus on case studies for all topics and remain up to date with our ever changing world and the forces shaping it.
Currently we are approaching Key Stage 4 Geography in a modular fashion, with Human Geography studied and examined in Year 10 and the Physical elements of the course investigated in Year 11. The controlled assessment fieldwork takes place in between the two modules during 20 hours of class time.
For more information on the GSCE Geography course we are studying, as well as a breakdown of the topics, please visit the AQA website. The AQA Specification A Geography (from 2009) can be accessed through the site or, alternatively by clicking the link:
http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcse/pdf/AQA-4030-W-SP-10.PDF
The dedicated Geography staff at St Josephs have a passion for their subject and invite you all to come and see the big picture with us.
‘Simply put, geography is our future. When we look at any issue with the balance and scrutiny that geographical study offers, we move beyond the media hype or political spin. Geography allows us to see the world more clearly.’
- Tom Biebrach
