Curriculum : Geography Geography Staff Ms Langton (Head of Department) Ms Gee Mr Kellie Mr Walker 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: What is Geography? Settlement Map skills Weather and Climate Rivers and Coasts Year 7 also take part in a trip around our local area and a visit to Kew Gardens. In Year 8 we investigate: Our World Adventure Landscapes Map skills Restless Earth The environments of Africa Year 8 take part in a trip to the Natural History Museum to investigate earthquakes and volcanoes. In Year 9 we investigate: ·Global Warming Inequalities in Development Globalisation Tourism Population Why choose geography at GCSE? At GCSE we cover three units: ·Unit 1: Challenges and Interactions in Geography (30%) Written Paper: 1 hour (F/H) Unit 2: Development and Problem Solving Geography (45%) Written Paper: 2 hours (F/H) Unit 3: Geographical Enquiry (25%) Controlled Assessment The GCSE is divided into three themes: 1. The Challenges of Living in a Built Environment. 2. People and the Natural World Interactions. 3. People, Work and Development. Currently the coursework topics are on visitor impact at Epping forest and Coastal erosion at Walton on the Naze.  Each piece of coursework requires a day trip in order to gather data. The coursework must be completed in controlled conditions during school hours. 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. 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 Barcelona and the second to North Wales. 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 2 AS units and 2 A2 units.  The content of these are outlined below: AS1: Global Challenges – Going Global and World at Risk.  One half of the unit will focus on issues facing the natural worlds – e.g. global warming and natural hazards.  The other half looks at issues such as ageing populations and migration patterns, globalisation, world cities. AS2: Geographical Investigations:  In this unit, students are expected to carry out several pieces of fieldwork.  They will be required to write some of these up in an exam at the end of the course.  We currently investigate rebranding in Barcelona, the impact of altitude on weather and flash flooding. AS level Geography is assessed with two structured exams at the end of the course.  There is no coursework. A2 1: Contested planet: This unit comprises of 6 compulsory units which are: Energy Security, Water Conflicts, Biodiversity Under Threat, Superpower Geographies, Bridging the Development Gap, The Technological Fix? A2 2: In this unit, students are expected to select one unit to focus their research on from the following: Tectonic Activity and Hazards, Cold Environments — Landscapes and Change, Life on the Margins — the Food Supply Problem, The World of Cultural Diversity, Pollution and Human Health at Risk, Consuming the Rural Landscape — Leisure and Tourism.  Students will spend the year gathering research on their topic and will be given guidance on where to focus this four weeks before the written exams. A2 level Geography is assessed with two exams at the end of the course.  There is no coursework. 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.