Geography

Welcome to Claremont High School Academy’s Geography Department webpage.

In today's globally interconnected society, it is increasingly important that we understand the world around us. The aim of the Claremont High School Academy Geography Department is to develop inquisitive learners with an understanding of the complex interactions that affect our planet, from the local to the global.  Students will investigate both physical and human aspects of geography to discover their role in our increasingly global world.

At Claremont, the geography department produce some excellent results at all key stages, with the majority of students achieving their target grades or higher. Geography is a popular subject at Key Stage 3 with a high number of pupils choosing to study geography at GCSE level and beyond.

 

Why study geography?

Knowledge and understanding

Geography is the study of the earth. It equips pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world helps them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

 

Skills

Geography is also about developing a wide range of skills. Geography builds on pupil’s numeracy skills providing an opportunity for pupils to apply mathematics to real life data and situations. Geography improves literacy in pupils expanding their vocabulary whilst enhancing their ability to construct well-structured written responses supported with factual evidence.

Pupils develop the ability to interpret Ordnance Survey maps in the classroom and the field, including using grid references and scale, topographical and other thematic mapping, and aerial and satellite photographs. Pupils have the opportunity to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to view, analyse and interpret places and data.

 

Fieldwork

Geography is about learning beyond the classroom. Fieldwork opportunities throughout their geographical education help develop pupil’s independent learning skills and sense of enquiry. Fieldwork requires pupils to carry out data collection in contrasting environments in the UK and teaches them to explore and ask questions about the world around them.

 

The Geography Department Team

The geography department consists of 4 full time members of staff and a deputy head teacher, Ms Aspinall, who teaches some Key Stage 3 lessons. Mr Riggs, Mr McDavid, Ms Oates and Ms Hung teach at Key Stage 3 and 4 and Mr Riggs and Mr McDavid teach A Level geography. At Key Stage 4 and 5 we use the AQA exam board.  

 

Programme of Study

Key Stage 3 - Year 7 and 8

Pupils in Year 7 and 8 consolidate and extend their knowledge of the world’s major countries and their physical and human features. They learn how geographical processes interact to create distinctive human and physical landscapes that change over time. Pupils develop greater competence in using geographical knowledge, approaches and concepts [such as models and theories] and geographical skills in analysing and interpreting different data sources.

Year 7 and 8 Geography - click here

 

Year 9 - GCSE FOUNDATION YEAR

Pupils in Year 9 sample 2 units form the AQA GSCE course. This includes two physical topics and two human topics. For those who choose to study geography at GCSE this ensures a strong foundation for the GCSE course and will allow more time to revise, fine tune exam technique and further develop geographical skills in Year 10 and 11. All Year 9 students will benefit from studying two of the most important and engaging topics – The Challenge of Natural Hazards and The Changing Economic World, as well as the study of Global Superpowers.

Year 9 Geography - click here 

 

Key Stage 4 - GCSE

At Claremont, students will follow the AQA GCSE Geography Grade 9-1 Syllabus which builds upon the GCSE foundation year to develop students' understanding of both physical and human geography and improve their geographical skills.Topics include ‘The Challenge of Natural Hazards’, ‘The Living World’, ‘Physical Landscapes in the UK’, ‘Urban Issues and Challenges’, ‘The Changing Economic World’ and ‘The Challenge of Resource Management’.  Year 11 students will also take part in a fieldtrip to Norfolk, which will enable them to prepare for their Geographical Applications exam, which focuses on fieldwork skills and issues evaluation.

 

Exam Structure:

Students will sit 3 exams at the end of the course.

Paper 1 – Physical geography

Paper 2 – Human geography

Paper 3 – Geographical Applications (Skills) 

 

 

 

Course content

In order to support independent learning we provide students with access to an online copy of the GCSE textbook.

Click on the topic headings for more detail about the content which is covered.

 

Year 10

Term	Topics Covered	Assessments
Autumn Term	Topic 1: Unit 1 Section A: The Challenge of Natural Hazards Tectonic Hazards Weather Hazards Climate Change   Topic 2: Unit 2 Section C: The Challenge of Resource Management Resource management – food, water and energy in the UK Energy management	Topic assessments for each topic covered
Spring Term	Topic 3: Unit 1 Section B: Physical landscapes of the UK Coastal landscapes River landscapes	Topic assessments for each topic covered
Summer Term	Topic 4: Unit 2 Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges The urban world Urban change in the U.K Urban sustainability	Topic assessments for each topic covered

 

 Year 11 

Term	Topics Covered	Assessments
Autumn Term	Topic 1: Unit 1 Section A: Urban Issues and Challenges The urban world Urban change in the UK Urban sustainability Topic 2: Unit 2 Section B: The Living World Ecosystems Tropical Rainforests Hot deserts	Topic assessment end of October.   December mock exam.
Spring Term	Topic 3 Unit 1 Section B: The Changing Economic World Development gap Newly Emerging Economy – Nigeria The Changing UK economy   Topic 4: Unit 3 Section B: Human Fieldwork   Topic 5: Unit 3 Section A: Issue evaluation – pre-release booklet available to students from mid-March.   REVISION	March mock exam
Summer Term	REVISION	Final GCSE Exams

 

Fieldwork

Students are required to attend two fieldwork investigations – one physical enquiry and one human enquiry.

The physical enquiry investigates the Norfolk coast and requires students to attend a 3 day residential trip to Norfolk.

The human enquiry investigates the impacts of regeneration in Wembley and requires students to attend a one-day fieldtrip in the local area.

It is essential that ALL students attend these trips in order for them to answer questions in the Paper 3 examination worth 30% of the final grade.

        

 

Key Stage 5 - A Level

At Claremont, students will follow the AQA A Level Geography Syllabus. The qualification enables students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of both physical and human geography whilst building on geographical skills and fieldwork established at GCSE. In physical geography, students explore a range of physical landscapes and develop a greater understanding of the impact of the water and carbon cycle on our planet. In human geography, students investigate global governance, changing places and contemporary urban spaces. Year 12 students will attend a UK based fieldtrip to prepare them for their Independent Fieldwork Investigation which makes up 20% of the final grade.

In order to support independent learning we provide students with their own text books and access to an online copy of the A Level textbook.

Exam Structure:

Students will sit 2 exams at the end of the course and complete one fieldwork investigation.

Paper 1 – Physical geography                        Paper 2 – Human geography

 

 

Year 12

Term	Topics Covered	Assessments
Autumn Term	Component 1 Section A: Water and Carbon Cycle   Component 2 Section A: Global Systems and Governance	Topic assessments for each topic covered
Spring Term	Component 1 Section B: Coastal Systems and Landscapes Component 2 Section B: Changing Places	Topic assessments for each topic covered
Summer Term	Component 1 Section B: Coastal Systems and Landscapes Component 2 Section B: Changing Places Component 3: Fieldwork Investigation	June End of Year 12 Exam

   

Extra-Curricular Opportunities

Fieldwork is viewed as an essential part of the Geography Curriculum and therefore opportunities have been built into the curriculum to allow students to take part in fieldwork investigations in the local area. Students also have the opportunity to take part in trips which enhance and enrich their geographical knowledge and understanding. 

The department also runs some very popular residential trips in Year 11 and Year 12 – both for coursework/examination preparation. The Year 11 students go to Norfolk to carry out a fieldwork investigation into the impacts of coastal processes whilst also enjoying some extreme activities. Year 12 students also take part in a residential fieldtrip; recent locations have included Nettlecombe in Somerset and Snowdonia in Wales.

         

 

 Geography in Action