We provide at Hillcrest School a high-quality Geography education which inspires in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Our curriculum aims to equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge provides the tools and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Aims

Our Curriculum for Geography aims to ensure that all pupils: develop contextual knowledge of the location of places, seas and oceans including defining their physical and human characteristics; understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time; acquire geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through fieldwork experiences that deepen their 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 and writing at length. A wide range of geographical skills and place knowledge are integrated with the topics throughout the curriculum. It also aims to prepare students with a firm foundation for the step up to GCSE geography.

 

 

Term 1A: What is Geography?

In this topic, students will learn what Geography is all about and will start to develop a range of geographical skills. Students will learn how to describe locations and how to use maps. They will also learn about the world, including continents and countries, as well as some background to the geography of the United Kingdom.

Term 1B: Weather and climate

In this topic, students will learn about the weather and climate, including the difference between these two terms. They will learn about the factors affecting the UK’s climate, and the water cycle. Students develop fieldwork skills through collecting, presenting and analysing weather data. They will also the causes and impacts of climate change, as well as strategies that can be used to deal with it.

Term 2A: Population

This topic introduces the concept of population. Students will learn about population and migration in the UK, and around the world. They will develop an understanding of population density, distribution, and structure and will develop skills using GIS. They will learn about population challenges, including ageing populations, overpopulation and underpopulation, as well as contrasting theories about how population may continue to change in the future.

Term 2B: Coasts

This topic introduces coasts with a look at the coastline of the UK. Students then learn about various coastal processes and landforms, including erosional and depositional landforms. They will study threats to the UK’s coastline and will learn about ways in which the coastline can be protected. GIS skills will be further developed through an investigation into coastal erosion. Students will also learn about the islands of Tuvalu.

Term 3A: Forest biomes

The forest biomes topic introduces students to the different forests of the world, including tropical rainforests, temperate deciduous forests, boreal forests, and mangroves. They will learn about the impact of climate change and wildfires on forests, and how forests may continue to change in the future.

Term 3B: China

In the final topic of Year 7, students will learn about China. They will study physical features, such as climate and biomes, and human features such as population and migration. They will study the capital city, Beijing, and will learn about China’s influence on the rest of the world.

Term 1A: Globalisation

In this topic, students learn about what globalisation is and how it is caused. They will study global food production and trade, and the UK’s imports and exports. They will also learn about the rise of TNCs and their impact, and finally, they will evaluate the opportunities and challenges of globalisation.

 

Term 1B: Geology

Students will be introduced to geology through the study of geological timescales, the rock cycle, and the geology of the UK. They will learn about key processes such as weathering, erosion and mass movement. They will also learn about soils and will further develop fieldwork skills through investigating soils around the school. Finally, they will develop and understanding of the economic importance of geology.

 

Term 2A: Plate tectonics

This topic will teach students about the movements of the Earth’s tectonic plates. They will study different plate margins, and will learn about the main tectonic hazards, volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. For each hazard, they will study recent case studies and will gain an appreciation of the significance of these events.

 

Term 2B: Inequalities and development

In this topic, students will learn about global inequality and how this has changed over time. They will study factors affecting inequality and how inequality links to migration. They will develop an understanding of gender inequalities, as well as the inequalities associated with climate change. At the end of the topic, they will learn about various strategies to reduce inequalities.

 

Term 3A: Cities

Students will learn about the growth of cities around the world, including global cities and megacities. They will further develop their skills with using GIS through investigating cities. They will learn about urban structure, and the benefits and challenges of cities. Finally, they will study regeneration in cities and will develop ideas about how cities can become more sustainable.

 

Term 3B: The Democratic Republic of Congo

In the final topic of Year 8, students will make further use of GIS to investigate The Democratic Republic of Congo. They will study physical features, such as climates and biomes, and human features such as population, resources, and the impact of colonialism. At the end of the topic, students will learn about how the country can develop sustainably.

 

Term 1A: Rivers

In the Rivers topic, students will learn about the hydrological cycle and drainage basins. They will develop and understanding of river processes (erosion, transportation, and deposition) and the features of the upper, middle, and lower course of the river. They will also learn about flooding, including causes and effects of flooding, using GIS to investigate areas at risk. Finally, they will study strategies that can be used to reduce the risk of flooding.

 

Term 1B: Natural resources

Students will learn about important resources of the world, particularly food and energy. They will study challenges faced in using these resources, including the transition from non-renewable to renewable energy, sustainable fishing, and the issue of palm oil. Finally, they will look at the impacts of resource consumption and the links to climate change.

 

Term 2A: The Middle East

This topic will cover various aspects of The Middle East, including the physical geography, water, resources and the economy, population and migration, and the history of the region. Students will learn about specific areas, including Dubai and The Arabian Desert. They will also learn about the environmental challenges in the region and how these may be overcome.

 

Term 2B: Ice and glaciers

In this topic, students will learn about how ice on land and glaciers have changed over time. They will study glacial processes and landforms, and the evidence of glaciation in the UK. They will also learn about presently glaciated areas, including Mer De Glace, Antarctica, and the Arctic. Finally, they will develop an understanding of how climate change is affecting polar regions.

 

Term 3A: Russia

Students will investigate the physical and human geography of Russia, including landscapes, climate and biomes, and population. They will learn about Moscow, as well as the Steppe and other rural areas of Russia. At the end of the topic, they will gain an insight into Russia’s global influence.

 

Term 3B: The Anthropocene

In the final KS3 topic, students will learn about the Anthropocene, the period of time in which humanity has become a force of planetary change. Students will study the impact of humans, including pollution, plastic, and the impacts on oceans and ecosystems. They will further develop fieldwork skills by investigating air pollution. Finally, they will learn about how these issues may be resolved sustainably, such as through alternative energy supplies and global governance.

Geography is the study of the earth, our place in the world, and the pressing challenges that we face. At GCSE, you will study a range of human and physical aspects of geography, as well as learning a range of skills. You will also have the opportunity to take part in both human and physical fieldwork.

Paper 1: Changing Physical and Human Landscapes - 1 hour 30 minutes, 35%

• Landscapes and physical processes
• Rural-urban links
• Coastal hazards and their management

Paper 2: Environmental and development issues - 1 hour 30 minutes, 35%

• Weather, climate and ecosystems
• Development and resource issues
• Environmental challenges

Paper 3: Applied Fieldwork Enquiry - 1 hour 30 minutes, 30%

• Fieldwork methods, representation and analysis
• Using fieldwork to investigate geographical concepts
• Applying geographical concepts to the UK to make and justify decisions

Geography is vital to our understanding of the world around us. Through geography, we study many of the greatest challenges that we face in the future, including climate change, conflict over resources, crowded cities, natural disasters, deforestation, and a wide range of over issues. Not only do we aim to understand the problems, we also try to find solutions that will help us to meet the needs of the future as well as the needs of today.

Geography is an excellent choice for employment. A few examples of career options are shown below.

Volcanologist	Transport planner	Environmental consultant
Recycling officer	Architect	Town planner
Cartographer (working with maps)	International aid worker	Travel writer
Disaster response	Geographical information systems	Holiday companies
Resource management	Conservation	Teaching

 

 

 

 

Click here - for Geography reading list

In Geography, we intend for our students to gain competence in a range of geographical and transferable skills that will boost their employability and prepare them for a broad range of careers. 

• Where relevant, explicit links are made to a range of careers that use geographical skills, for example, careers involving GIS, decision making, mapping, and data analysis. These links will better enable students to understand a range of career opportunities and the value of Geography in these careers.
• Careers links made in lessons will enable students to make an informed choice when it comes to choosing their options as they progress through their education.
• Impact of careers provision will be measured through student feedback.