GEOGRAPHY

Geography is a very wide-ranging subject.  Within its scope are many diverse, interesting and exciting elements.  Teaching necessarily has to be selective and the material structured in an attempt to help students gain some organised view of the world.

The National Curriculum has placed a greater emphasis on continued assessment and record keeping for each student in order to evaluate her or his progress.  Geography at Key Stage 3 is studied in the National Curriculum under the heading, Skills, Places and Thematic Studies.   An awareness and understanding of current world affairs and problems are regarded as  important aspects of study.   

Various skills including map reading, finding reference materials, handling statistics, drawing sketch maps and note-taking, are taught in connection with appropriate topics.  A high value is placed on presentation.

In Year 10 Geography becomes an optional subject which is studied to examination level.  The G.C.S.E. AQA Syllabus A involves the study of a wide range of material, e.g. population and settlement, agriculture and/or industry, the physical environment and development.  A great emphasis is placed in this examination on skills, understanding and values. 

A new OCR short course in Geography is also an option at G.C.S.E. This involves three pieces of coursework (33%) and the examination (67%) is based on pre-released material.

Additionally G.C.S.E. requires the students to undertake an individual field work study. 

Year 12 offers the AS course involving topics from physical and human geography together with a local geographical enquiry.  A residential field trip to the Dorset coastline will take place in the Autumn Term.

Year 13 will offer the A2 course to allow the full completion of the A level.

A number of present Year 13 students are intending to study Geography at University.  A considerable number of ex-students have continued to study this subject to gain degrees at Universities;  others have entered careers such as surveying and retail management.

Organisation

Year 7   - 7 mixed ability groups
Year 8   - 7 mixed ability groups
Year 9    - 8 mixed ability groups
Years 10 & 11 - GCSE.  The number choosing the full course subject is usually about 45 (20 short course)
Years 12 & 13-“AS” “A2” Level course
     
Staff

There are three full time members of staff teaching Geography.

Facilities
     
Within the Humanities corridor, there are two specialist Geography rooms. There is a wide range of ICT and audio-visual equipment.