Subject Head: Esme Batchelor
Contact: ebatchelor@farmors.gloucs.sch.uk
During their first three years at Farmor’s all students will study Geography for four periods each fortnight. In Year 10 Geography becomes an option choice. Geography is the study of Earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live. At Key Stage 3 lessons are interactive and engaging, developing the pupils’ investigative, cartographic and graphical skills. Students study places and communities in addition to natural environments. They will see how and why the world is changing - globally, nationally and locally and try to make sense of this. Throughout this Key Stage communication skills and the ability to organise their own work is developed as well as improving their teamwork. The aim is also to ensure that their environmental, social and spatial awareness evolves. The table below sets out the structure of this Key Stage in more detail.
7
Citizen of the World
Mad about Maps
Population
Flooding in the UK and Bangladesh
Japan
Settlement
8
Development
Brazil and Tropical Rainforest
Fantastic Places
Coasts
Weather and Climate
Trade and Aid
9
Earthquakes, Plate Tectonics and
Violent Volcanoes
Globalisation
Tourism
World Ecosystems and Antarctica
Geography of Crime
Fieldwork Investigation
Qualification: GCSE
Specification: AQA GCSE Geography)
Course outline/ what should students expect to do during the course?
We study the following subjects in addition to investigative fieldwork:
Natural and Tectonic Hazards
Earthquakes – should we worry? Do we have volcanoes in the UK? Why do people continue to live in areas at risk from earthquakes and volcanoes?
Hurricanes, Extreme Weather and Climate Change
Why does it rain so much in the UK? Is our weather becoming more extreme? Climate change- what’s all the fuss about and how will it affect me? What is a willy willy? Will you be able to ski in the Alps in 20 years’ time?
Ecosystems, Tropical Rainforests and Hot Deserts
What are biomes? What has producers, consumers and decomposers got to do with ecosystems? What has the loss of Tropical Rainforest got to do with me? Are hot deserts always hot?
Economic and Resource Issues and Challenges
Will we have any resources left for future generations? Can we continue to feed the World? What’s energy got to do with it? Is ‘doing nothing’ a viable option? Aeroponics and hydroponics – are they new music bands?
Urban Issues and Challenges
Do you want to live in a megacity? Is living in the city good for everyone? Can you provide solutions to urban problems? Could you be a future city planner? Are cities right for the planet?
Geographical Application
There are fieldwork opportunities as we bring classroom Geography to life. Would you like to improve your knowledge and understanding of the World? Do you know how to begin a Geographical Investigation? Do you enjoy fieldwork? Is ‘sampling’ just to do with eating?
Paper 1 & 2 Written exams: 1 hour 30 minutes each
Paper 3 Written exam: 1 hour
We offer a well-established and successful A-Level in Geography.