Geography at Rugby High School

Geography Department Vision Statement

The Geography Department at Rugby High School aims to engage students in contemporary and stimulating Geography through independent, active learning. Geography is a relevant and constantly changing subject and we support students to explore, understand and develop their own justified views on a wide range of topical issues such as Climate Change and Globalisation. We hope that, through Geography, students will gain a more in depth understanding of the key issues facing our population and planet. Lessons are designed to be varied, engaging and challenging, ensuring that each student is able to reach their full potential. Students are provided with many opportunities to develop their organisational skills and are encouraged to become self-motivated and confident individuals. Students also improve their communication and presentation skills through a range of group projects. Teachers are highly supportive and students are encouraged to reflect on their work and identify strengths and areas for development. Throughout the school, students are guided to track their own progress and set themselves challenging targets based on specific feedback. The department promotes direct experience of Geography and fieldwork is becoming an increasingly integral part of the curriculum at all Key Stages.

The Geography department consists of four specialist teachers: Mrs Browning, Mr Bottle, Mrs Ellis and Mrs Gosling who are all genuinely passionate about Geography. The department is housed within the Olive Hands Building where it has two specialist classrooms.

In Year 7 and 8, students are taught a wide range of topics which aim to create an enthusiasm and love of Geography alongside the development of key Geographical knowledge and skills. Students are provided with many opportunities to develop their skills through a range of independent and group projects on topics such as investigating the physical and human characteristics of their local area. 

 

Year 7 Geography

Course content: 

• Geography around the World
• The location of 10 countries on a World Map
• The physical, human and environmental characteristics of 10 countries
• The Development Gap
• How development varies around the World
• A range of development indicators
• Extreme Environments
• The physical and human characteristics of polar and desert environments
• What life is like for people living in polar and desert environments
• Weather and Climate
• The difference between weather and climate
• How weather and climate are measured
• Map Skills
• The physical and human features of the UK
• That there are a range of maps which can include Political, Physical and OS maps
• My Local Place
• The physical and human characteristics of Bilton and their local area
• How to conduct fieldwork to collect data on the characteristics of a place

Assessment:

Autumn term - A comparison of two countries, Development Gap Exam

Spring term - Comparing desert and polar regions, Independent weather project

Summer term - Comparing Bilton to my local area

Year 8 Geography

Course content: 

• Volcanoes:
  • The causes of volcanic eruptions
  • The characteristics of different types of volcanoes
  • The impacts of volcanoes on people and the environment
• Globalisation
  • What globalisation is and why it occurs
  • The consequences of globalisation
  • The impacts f globalisation in China and Africa
• Environmental Issues
  • What sustainability is
  • About a range of environmental issues
  • The causes and consequences of global warming
• Ecosystems
  • The global distribution and characteristics of major biomes
  • The characteristics f tropical rainforests
  • Threats t tropical rainforests
• Independent Investigation
  • How to conduct a small independent investigation based on one of the topics they have studied this year
  • How primary and secondary data can be used to help answer a key question
  • How to analyse primary and secondary data to come to a conclusion

Assessment:

Autumn term - Volcano exam, Globalisation report

Spring term - Environmental issues exam, Ecosystems exam

Summer term - Independent investigation report

Year 9 Geography

An ‘Introduction to GCSE Geography’ curriculum is studied by Year 9 students before they choose their options. In this year, students spend each term studying small parts of the GCSE course; this has included studying Tsunamis, Tropical Cyclones, and the challenges facing Mumbai. In this year, there is an increased emphasis on exam technique and developing the skills and knowledge required at GCSE. There are also opportunities for independent investigation and group projects where students are encouraged to develop their problem solving and research skills.

Course content:

• The UK’s evolving physical landscape (Rivers)
  • How water moves around the hydrological cycle
  • The processes of erosion, transportation and deposition
  • Which landforms can be found in the upper, middle and lower course of a river
  • Why and where rivers flood
  • The physical and human factors that increase the likelihood of flooding
• Challenges of an Urbanising World (Mumbai)
  • The opportunities and challenges for people living in Mumbai
  • How and why quality of life varies in Mumbai
  • Advantages and disadvantages f top-down and bottom-up strategies to make Mumbai more sustainable
• The UK’s evolving physical landscape (Coasts)
  • How geology and rock type influence erosional landforms
  • How the UK climate influences the coastline
  • How sediment transportation and deposition processes influence coastal landforms
  • How human activities have direct or indirect effects on the coast
  • A case study of one coastline
  • Why there are increased risks from coastal flooding
  • How coastal processes can be managed

Assessment:

Exam in autumn spring and summer terms

GCSE Geography

Examination Board: Edexcel B syllabus

Introduction to the subject at GCSE

Geography is a popular and successful option at GCSE where students study the Edexcel B course. We believe this is the most engaging, relevant and well-designed specification taught through contemporary case studies and field trips to Birmingham and Carding Mill Valley.

With the challenges of climate change, resource depletion, the search for sustainability, poverty and more, the world needs more geographers to understand these issues.  Could you be someone who helps society solve these issues and change the future?

Why choose this subject for GCSE?

Are you...

• Keen to understand the changing world?
• Able to work independently and as a team? 

Do you... 

• Enjoy Year 9 Geography?
• Want an opportunity to learn outdoors? 
• Like learning about how and why life is different around the world? 
• Take an interest in natural disasters?

If so, study Geography!

Course content:

You will study the Edexcel B syllabus an engaging and relevant specification, comprising of:

• Global Geographical Issues (natural hazards, development and urbanisation).  Exam = 37.5%
• UK Geographical Issues (UK’s physical & human landscapes plus city & river fieldwork).  Exam= 37.5%
• People and Environment Issues (the biosphere, threatened forests, energy resource consumption).  Exam = 25%, includes weighing up information on an environmental topic to make a reasoned decision based on sustainability credentials. 

Year 10

Year 10 Topics:

• Challenges of an urbanizing world
• Hazardous Earth
• Development Dynamics
• The UK’s evolving physical landscape

Year 11

Year 11 Topics:

• The UK’s evolving human landscape
• People and the biosphere
• Forests under threat
• Consuming energy resources

Assessment:

3 papers: 

• Global Geographical Issues (natural hazards, development and urbanisation).  Exam = 37.5%
• UK Geographical Issues (UK’s physical & human landscapes plus city & river fieldwork).  Exam= 37.5%
• People and Environment Issues (the biosphere, threatened forests, energy resource consumption).  Exam = 25%,

 

A Level Geography

At A Level the Edexcel syllabus is also studied; there are field trips in both years. Year 12 students visit Birmingham and London to help them collect data for their NEA with Year 13 students taking part in a 3 day residential trip to Dorset to study coastal landforms and processes.

For details of our A Level Geography course, click here