Curriculum : Geography Geography Staff Ms Langton (Head of Department) Ms Savage Mr Venter Geography is the study of people and place. At The Grey Coat Hospital we learn Geography through enquiry into the issues that affect people both locally and around the world. All pupils study Geography to the end of KS3. At GCSE and A Level Geography is an optional subject. Throughout Geography there are opportunities to use map skills. Geographers also continually extend their literacy, numeracy and ICT skills. Geographers are active global citizens. They learn about the reasons for inequality in the world and consider some of the action we can take. In Year 7 we investigate: Life in cities Rivers and flooding Rocks and weathering Industry and farming Year 7 also take part in a trip around our local area and a boat trip to the Thames Barrier. In Year 8 we investigate: Europe and the EU The geography of France What happens at the coast Weather and climate The environments of Africa Life in Japan Year 8 take part in a trip to Kew Gardens in order to investigate natural environments. In Year 9 we investigate: World Population Inequalities in Development Living with Volcanoes Environmental Issues Tourism Why choose geography at GCSE? At GCSE we study 4 topics: People and Place Water, Landforms and People Climate, Environment and People People and Work The GCSE is based on 75% exam and 25% coursework. Currently the coursework topics are on the redevelopment of the area of the Greenwich Peninsula and on Brazil. In order to support the GCSE course there are 2 trips. The first is a day trip to the Greenwich Peninsula where information is collected for coursework. The second is a residential revision course to a centre in Kent. What is GCSE Geography about? The aim of this GCSE course is to help students understand their world through studying topical issues which affect their lives. Some examples of the type of work covered are given below: A recent survey into the ‘Geography of Misery’ found six London boroughs to be in the top ten most miserable places to live in Britain. The current Year 10 class have investigated this by looking at what affects the quality of people’s lives in cities and what can be done to improve it. In addition we study aspects of physical geography. While studying rivers we look flooding in Britain and investigated why rivers flood and how we can protect ourselves from the consequences of severe flooding. On a global scale we investigate the work of multi-national companies, such as Nike and consider the impact they can have on our lives as well as the lives of people all around the world. How is GCSE Geography assessed? Exams. 75% of the marks are available in the final, written exams. As well as written answers about specific places which have been studied the exam also includes a large number of questions based on resources such as maps, photos or graphs. One paper is a decision making exercise about a real place. In this exam the students are asked to identify a geographical issue or problem and then suggest a solution to the problem. Coursework. This is worth 25% of the marks. Currently one piece of coursework involves a trip to the Greenwich Peninsula. The girls collect a variety of information on the area and use this to answer the question ‘Has the development of the Greenwich Peninsula been a success?’ The title of the second piece of coursework is ‘Congestion charging will improve quality of life for people in London.’ The girls look at the problems of and solutions to traffic congestion in a variety of cities worldwide. They then comment on the plans for London and explain their opinion fully. What about fieldwork? At the end of the course there is an optional revision field trip to a field centre in Kent to look at some of the issues we have studied throughout the course. Why Study geography at A Level? At A Level we continue the approach of learning about human and physical environments through studying issues based Geography. The A Level Geographers take part in 2 residential trips, the first to the North Norfolk Coast and the second to Barcelona. Geography is about the natural world and the place of people within it. The study of Geography involves developing a curious, questioning approach to your world either at the local, national or global level. Post-16 Geography courses encourage students to focus on current major global issues and provide them with a framework within which to investigate them. They build on the skills and knowledge developed for GCSE although it is possible to take a Geography course without having previously studied the subject. There are 3 AS units and 3 A2 units. The content of these are outlined below: AS 1: Changing Landforms and their Management: This unit investigates process, change and the challenge of management in river and coastal environments. AS 2: Managing Change in Human Environments: This unit considers the issues for people in both rural and urban environments in countries with different levels of wealth. AS 3: Environmental Investigation: This is a fieldwork exercise linked to one or more components of AS 1 or AS 2. Students identify an issue and carry out an investigation using a variety of skills and techniques. AS Level Geography is assessed with two structured exam papers at the end of the course and one piece of coursework. A2 1: Global Challenge: This A Level unit focuses on global challenges by exploring how we can work towards a sustainable future for our natural and human environment. This could include considering the long term issue of climate change or the implications of rapid population growth. A2 2: Researching Global Futures: This unit builds on other parts of the course and gives students the opportunity to develop their independent learning and study skills. It consists of a series of options which include; Living with hazardous environments; The pollution of natural environments; Feeding the world’s people and The geography of sport and leisure. A2 3: Synoptic Unit: This will draw together knowledge, understanding and skills from the whole course and will lead to a final exam which is an Issues Analysis exercise based on pre- released resources. A2 units are assessed with one data response, structured exam, one research essay completed under exam conditions, one piece of coursework and the final, Issues Analysis exercise. AS and A2 Level Geography can link many other subject areas. It contains elements of the Sciences through topics such as climate change and the management of hazards (earthquakes and volcanoes). It includes aspects of Psychology in understanding how human behaviour can shape different places, especially in cities. It has links with Law, Politics and History in investigating how decisions are made and how this affects the places in which we live. It uses a variety of data sources which have links with Maths. Geography as the study of different countries also has obvious links with Modern Languages. AS and A2 Level Geography also provide a wide variety of opportunities to develop a range of Key Skills. Preferred GCSE requirements: Geography to at least Grade B. If you are interested in taking Geography but have not studied it to GCSE you should talk to one of the Geography Department.