Geography

Our curriculum intent applies to all our young people, regardless of background, gender, sexual orientation, or ability. As a school, and as a department we are absolutely committed to providing opportunities that ensure that each student can reach and exceed their potential.

At Washington Academy our young people become global citizens and Geographers inspiring them to ask questions about the world they live in and their role within it. All students are, without exception, entitled to a world-class geographical education that is holistic, ambitious, and aspirational. Our young people develop a life-long love of learning through the study of places at a variety of different scales (local, national, and international), by looking at the human and physical processes that shape and change them. Geographical skills are developed to enhance and deepen geographical thinking, enabling learners to analyse and form conclusions about a range of issues and processes that affect people, the environment, and the natural landscape. It is through this that students will engender the passion for geography that allows students to articulate clearly and coherently their personal beliefs, ideas, values, and experiences while respecting the right of others to differ. Students will draw upon their own experiences of life in modern Britain and the wider world to consider the social, moral, cultural, and ethical issues associated with their actions and the impacts that these have over space and time. Our geographers will utilise a range of geographical skills to interpret and communicate their findings to deepen their understanding and knowledge.

Students follow a programme of study that is developed using the National Curriculum for Geography at KS3. Supplementary to this, to ensure a broad and rich curriculum is delivered; students are provided with the opportunity to deepen their geographical understanding through the exploration of key themes and issues. It is our aim to ensure all students across key stage 3 embed key terms, concepts, and skills that they have previously studied across other units delivered that are driven from the National Curriculum for Geography. Literacy, numeracy, and geographical enquiry skills are fed through our curriculum allowing pupils to focus on the precise technical language and skills needed to make sense and interact with the numerous case studies we study.

Upon entry to Key Stage 4 students deepen their knowledge of Physical and Human Geography (AQA Geography) allowing students to develop an understanding of; the challenging of natural hazards, the living world, physical landscapes in the UK, urban issues, and challenges, changing economic world, challenges of resource management and geographical applications and skills.

We are responsible for ensuring our young people are confident to pursue ambitious next steps in geographical education, employment or training which will support their future careers through introducing careers related to geography, the importance of the wide range of transferrable skills that are used in geography and how these can be used by young people in their future learning or career.

Key Stage 3

At Key Stage 3 the curriculum for geography aims to ensure all pupils:

Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places, including their defining physical and human characteristics
Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world and the impact these processes can have on people and places

We also aim to ensure all pupils are competent in the geographical skills needed to:

Collect, analyse, and communicate with a range of data gathered, through experiences of fieldwork that deepen understanding of geographical processes
Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs, and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills, and writing at length

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, the curriculum follows the GCSE AQA 8035. The course content builds and develops upon the knowledge, understanding, and skills developed at Key Stage 3.

The course is comprised of three examination papers. Units 1 and 2 are assessed in examinations of 1 hour and 30 minutes; each worth 35 per cent of the final mark. Unit 3 is assessed with a 1 hour and 15-minute examination and is 30 per cent of the final mark.

Unit 1 is the Physical Environment, this includes the topics of Natural Hazards, The Living World, and Physical Landscapes within the United Kingdom.

Unit 2 is the Human Environment, this includes the topics of Urban Issues and Challenges, The Changing Economic World, and The Challenge of Resource Management.

Unit 3 is Geographical Applications and includes the topics of Issue Evaluation and Fieldwork.

Pupils will develop their understanding of physical processes and factors that produce diverse and dynamic landscapes that change over time. They will learn to appreciate the differences and similarities between people, places, and cultures leading to an improved understanding of societies and economies.

Enquiry projects will develop questioning, investigation, and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives. Students will use varied resources including maps and visual media as well as complex technologies such as GIS and remote sensing, to obtain, analyse, and present information.

Students will develop essential skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, synthesising ideas, identifying issues, and communicating findings through the undertaking of a fieldwork investigation, individually and as part of a team.

To see where Geography can get you after GCSE, watch the video in the link below.

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Curriculum Support

Please find below all the support documents you need for Geography.

Year 7

Unit A: Where is my place in the world?

Unit B: How has the UK’s landscapes formed?
Unit C: Why do people visit the Lake District?
Unit D: Are resources destroying our planet?
Unit E: Who is responsible for Climate Change?

Year 8

Unit A: How extreme is weather?
Unit B: 8 Billion and Counting?
Unit C: What ecosystems make up our planet?

Unit D: How influential is the Middle East?
Unit E: How dangerous is Earth?

Year 9

Unit A:  How diverse is Russia?

Unit B: What is globalisation?
Unit C: How influential is Africa?
Unit D: What is the geography of disease?
Unit E: How powerful are borders?

Year 10

Unit A: Resource Management
Unit B: Climate Change
Unit C: UK Economic World
Unit D: The Development Gap
Unit E: River Landscapes
Unit F: Urban Change in a HIC (Newcastle)
Unit G: Coastal Landscapes
Unit H: Human and Physical Fieldwork

Year 11

Unit A: Tropical Rainforests

Unit A: Urban Change in a NEE (Rio)
Unit B: Weather Hazards
Unit C: Economic World (Nigeria)
Unit D: Tectonic Hazards
Unit E: Cold Environments
Unit F: Pre-Released Material
Unit G: Revision and run up to exams

Thornhill Academy

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