Contact Details
- 01805 623531
- admin@gts.devon.sch.uk
Great Torrington School, Calvesford Road, Great Torrington, Devon, EX38 7DJ
Geography
Subject Lead - Ms Sarah Anstee, 01805 623531 Ext. 218 or sanstee@gts.devon.sch.uk
Teachers - Ms Lindsay Douglas
As Michael Palin says…
“Geography is not only up-to-date and relevant, it is one of the most exciting, adventurous and valuable subjects to study today. So many of the world’s current problems boil down to geography, and need the geographers of the future to help us understand them.
You will find geographers working in a wide range of jobs, from the City to planning, working in the environment to travel and tourism, or in international charities and retail. Studying geography can help young people achieve careers that are professionally and financially rewarding and also enjoyable.
Geography illustrates the past, explains the present and prepares us for the future … what could be more important than that?”
Intent
- To give pupils and understanding of the natural and human world, to provoke their curiosity, sense of place and responsibility to become global citizens within the changing local and global community.
- To develop their analytical, research and interpretation skills within a range of techniques to be able to communicate geographical information effectively.
- To provide all pupils with the foundations to contribute positively to their community and confidently face the challenges and opportunities of life within the 21st Century.
Curriculum and Qualifications
| Autumn | Spring |
|
Year 7 | What is Geography/Map skills.
What and where are Africa, Asia and the Middle East. | Use of Natural resources, Food, water, energy. How are we meeting the demands of the increasing population? Is there enough food and water? What about the future?
Influencing the environment. Global issues: Pollution, Farming, Rising Sea levels. What is the affect people have on the planet? Living sustainably. What can we do to help? | Tourism: The good, the bad and the ugly. We like to visit places why, what opportunities and challenges do tourists create for places. How can we be responsible tourists and citizens. |
Year 8 | UK: Our home: Where do we all live? Human and Physical UK, the world of work, why has it changed?
7 Billion and counting – The increasing population, where do we all live and why? | Urban Jungle. Urbanisation: more people moving to the city why? Is this true around the world?
An unequal world. Why aren’t countries equal? How do we know? How can we help?
| From Rocks to soil: Weathering/Water and Rivers. How do these shape our landscape?
Our warming planet and Glaciers. What is Global warming? How is it caused and how does that affect our climate. What is happening to our ice?
|
Year 9 | Extreme weather and storms. Weather and climate what’s the difference? Tropical storms, what and where do they occur? How do they affect places. | Our Restless Planet: Volcanoes/ Earthquakes/Tsunamis. What causes them and how can we respond.
World Biomes: Tropical, Hot, Cold Environments. How do animals and plants adapt, what opportunities and challenges are there in those environments. | Coasts: How do waves work? What landforms do they create? How can we protect places from the sea?
|
TITLE OF QUALIFICATION
GCSE Geography
EXAM BOARD
AQA
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
The course has three papers:
PAPER 1: LIVING WITH THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
Section A – The Challenge of Natural Hazards Natural Hazards. Tectonic Hazards. Weather Hazards. Climate Change.
Section B – The Living World Ecosystems. Tropical Rainforests. Hot Deserts.
Section C –Physical Landscapes of the UK UK Physical Landscapes. Coasts. Rivers.
PAPER 2: CHALLENGES IN THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT
Section A – Urban Issues and Challenges Exeter. Lagos.
Section B – The Changing Economic World Nigeria The UK.
Section C – The Challenge of Resource Management Resource Management. Water.
PAPER 3: GEOGRAPHICAL APPLICATIONS
There isn’t any new content for you to learn for this unit. It is all about applying what you already know.
Section A – Issue Evaluation You will be sent a booklet of material 12 weeks before the exam. You have to analyse and interpret it, then answer questions in the exam on a related issue.
Section B – Fieldwork
You must take part in 2 field trips. In the exam you will be asked to write about general fieldwork techniques as fieldwork you have done yourself.
HOW WILL THIS COURSE BE ASSESSED?
100% final examination:
- Paper 1 = 1 hour and 30 minutes. 35% of your final mark.
- Paper 2 = 1 hour and 30 minutes. 35% of your final mark.
- Paper 3 = 1 hour and 15 minutes. 30% of your final mark.
- Question types = multiple choice, short answer, levels of response, extended writing.
WHAT SKILLS DO I NEED?
- Literacy – the ability to read and write fluently.
- Numeracy Skills – 25% of your final mark will come from questions that test your numerical, statistical and data analysis skills.
- Listening skills and the ability to engage in group activity.
| Autumn | Spring |
|
Year 10 | Urban Issues and Challenges: Its an increasingly urban world. Mega cities are growing why? Investigating Lagos and managing its rapid growth. What are the challenges in UK cities? Focusing on Exeter. What challenges do cities face and how can we make urban areas more sustainable.
| Changing Economic World: Is there a development gap? How do we know and why? Can we reduce the gap? What’s happening in Nigeria and the UK. How have they changed, what are the impacts of change?
| Challenge of Resource management: How are resources distributed globally? What is the provision for food, water and energy like in the UK. Water: What is the global supply? Is there enough? How can we increase and sustain water supplies.
Fieldwork: Exeter and Westward Ho!
|
Year 11 | Challenge of Natural Hazards: What are hazards, how can we manage them and live with them? Comparing earthquakes Chile and Nepal, looking at Tropical storms and focusing in on Typhoon Haiyan. What is Climate change, how does it affect us and how can we reduce and adapt to the changes. | Living world: Ecosystems, Tropical rainforests and hot deserts. What are the opportunities and challenges how can we manage them sustainably. Examples Malaysia and Thar.
Physical landscapes: Coasts and Rivers> How do they change the landscape? What processes are at work? What landforms are created and how can we manage the coast and flooding at Westward Ho! and Boscastle. | Pre-release, fieldwork and revision. |