Team Leader Geography – Mrs Jane Paget
Geography Teachers: Mr Andy Putnam, Dr Gavin Walker
KEY STAGE 3
Geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps make sense of a complex and ever changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.
KS3 units of work allow pupils to study the main strands of the subject, namely, physical, human and environmental geography. Topics studied at KS3 include: maps; weather and climate; natural and human wonders of the world; settlement; industry; environmental concerns; coasts; European Union; natural hazards; development. Fieldwork is an essential part of geography with trips to Arundel (year 7). Gunwharf (year 
and Wisley Gardens (year 9).
Pupils will develop a number of skills through their geographical studies including the ability to work in teams and independently as well as to think creatively and learn to reflect/evaluate the success of completed tasks. The subject allows pupils to think spatially, use maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography is an ‘enquiry’ subject and as a result ‘seeking to develop independent enquirers’ is a key skill area that pupils are encouraged to develop through a range of learning activities including problem solving; fieldwork and questioning.
KEY STAGE 4
Geography is the science of place and space. Geographers investigate both the natural and man made world studying places and examining reasons for difference between places as well as human interaction with the environment. The subject bridges many topics from the sciences to the arts.
The GCSE course is from exam board WJEC syllabus Geography B. Three themes are studied covering physical, human and environmental geography. Theme 1: Challenges of Living in a Built Environment. Theme 2: People and the Natural World Interactions. Theme 3: People, Work and Development. There are two levels of assessment at GCSE: Foundation (grades G to C) and Higher (grades D to A*.). Both levels are assessed by written papers and controlled assessment. There are two written exams totalling 75% of the GCSE, sat in the summer of year 11. Exam 1 is a 1 hour paper assessing ‘Themes 1 and 2’ (30% of GCSE). Exam 2 is a 2 hour paper assessing Theme 3 with a cross unit problem solving exercise (45% of GCSE). Controlled Assessment equals 25% of the GCSE involving two pieces of work.
During two days of fieldwork pupils collect data for their controlled assessments: fieldwork locations vary but may include the New Forest, Chichester, Living Forest (near Oxford). Through fieldwork pupils develop a range of skills including: map; Interpretative and evaluative skills Decision and problem solving; Team work and independent enquiry. Seeking to develop independent enquirers is particularly important in geography as an enquiry subject.