Curriculum Intent
Geography is the world around us and everything that is in it. It is more vital than ever for our pupils to understand this in order to become the global citizens they need to become. At Werneth the Geography department aims to ensure that our pupils get a thorough and rigorous view of the world around them. The curriculum aims to build up both skills and knowledge to our young people in relation to the UK and the wider world; with an even spread of human and physical Geography intertwined. We want our students to see the inherent links within Geography and from Geography to the rest of their education. Our teaching will allow pupils to foster a greater independence in their work with collaborative approaches and pupil engagement at the forefront of teaching. The pupils need to know their place in the world and where they will go in it.
Curriculum Features
What do you study?
Geography is an exciting subject that will broaden your horizon, increase your awareness of the world around you and open your eyes to the wonders of the planet you live on. Geography encourages you to think deeply and to ask questions. Geography is about more than just seeing mesmerising places around the world. It is about understanding the complexity of our planet and appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across its continents.
Who is it suitable for?
Geography suits hard workers who are ready to push themselves and learn new skills. Geography is closely linked to many subjects, in particular: Maths, English, and Science. To be a successful Geographer you will need excellent writing and numerical skills. You will also need great enthusiasm to explore the world around you and be somebody who strives to improve even if they find something difficult.
Where will it take you?
Geography is a diverse and very much academic discipline. It will help you go on to study many subjects at A Level. Geographical qualifications can be used not just in geographical fields but also in business, civil service, military, police, and other occupations that require analytical skills. Geographers are valuable as they have the ability to analyse the modern world as well as predicting patterns of change. A Geographer can adapt to a variety of situations, which makes it a very employable and useful subject.
Overview
Year 7
Geography Y7 Progression Grid Link
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Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
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Area of study: |
Geography in the UK |
Extreme environments |
Settlements |
Kenya |
Weather and climate |
Asia |
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What should they know? |
What a country and continent is All 7 continents and 4 oceans What a compass is and how to use it What Longitude and latitude is What an OS maps is The four nations of the UK What a climate graph is What extreme weather is |
What an extreme environment is How people use the Tundra for oil exploitation How animals adapt in a desert What the Desert climate is like using a graph to support What desertification is |
What is a settlement Early settlements and their characteristics What Push and pull factors are How multicultural Manchester is |
Introduction to the concept of Africa Kenya development lesson Introduction to tourism African Climate and how it varies African population and how it varies African development and how it varies |
What weather and climate is
How to measure the weather
Types of weather including extreme weather examples
Climatic zones around the world
How local weather is impacted by seasonal and local changes |
Mapping Asia
Why Asia is so important
Physical and human Geography of Asia
Disasters in Asia
Megacities in Asia
Recent development in Asia |
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What should they be able to do? |
Read OS maps
Read climate graphs
Write at length about extreme weather
Discuss Geographical components fluently |
Identify features of extreme environments
Write at length about oil exploitation
Compare climate graphs and animal adaptations |
Describe the settlement hierarchy
Understand theoretical models
Discuss the impacts of immigration into Manchester
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Verbally discuss the regional differences within Africa and how Geographical features are impacted by climate, location or other factors |
Measure the weather
Go out onto the field and measure the weather
Interpret data and write up a summary of the local weather |
Compare Asia to the rest of the world
Create comparisons of Asia internally
Relate Asia to their previous learning |
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Key vocabulary |
Continent Longitude Latitude Weather Climate |
Exploit
Biome
Equator
Extreme |
Settlement
Hierarchy
Multicultural
Migration
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Region
Political
Development
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Climate
Weather
Temperature
Celcius
Farenheit |
Mega city
Development
Disaster
Continent |
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Assessment |
To ensure consistency of assessment across the year for students we use the following model:
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Year 8
Geography Y9 Progression Grid Link
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Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
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Area of study: |
Climate change |
India |
Our dangerous world |
Globalisation |
Water world |
Europe |
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What should they know? |
The greenhouse and enhanced greenhouse effect.
Renewable and non-renewable energy
UK Energy decision making exercise
What is your carbon footprint?
UK climate change impacts
Global climate change impacts
Solutions to climate change |
The location of key India geography
What is the physical and human geography of India?
How do India and the UK compare?
Life in the slum
Slum solutions: Dharavi
The climate of India
India monsoon
Outsourcing to India
Population and population pyramids |
What are the layers of the earth?
How is the world a jigsaw? (plate tectonics)
What is a tsunami?
What is a volcano?
What happened during the Iceland volcano?
What is a glacier?
What are the impacts of glaciation?
Glaciation and tourism |
How is the UK globalised?
What are the impacts of globalisation?
What are the locations of globalisation sites?
Globalisation and sport
The positive and negatives of the globalisation of sport
Globalisation and supermarkets
Globalisation and palm oil |
Why is the River Nile important to study?
How does the physical geography of the River Nile change?
How is HEP positive for the River Nile?
How is the River Niles water in danger?
Why is the Horn of Africa important to study?
Where are the best waves on the Horn of Africa?
How developed is the Horn of Africa? |
Mapping Europe
Why Europe is so important
Physical and human Geography of Europe
Population and migration in Europe
Recent development in Europe
The role of the EU |
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What should they be able to do? |
Label and annotate diagrams/maps/graphs
Categorise and justify
Decide and discuss
Analyse differences between rich and poor countries and write at length on these. |
Label maps and graphs
Use data to explain differences
Write at length about life in the slum and assess the sustainability of solutions |
Label and annotate maps and diagrams
Categorise local and global impacts
Assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of an issue |
Label and annotate diagrams/maps/graphs
Assess the social, economic and environmental impacts of an issue
Compare and discuss the variable impacts of an issue |
Label and annotate diagrams/maps/graphs
Discuss geopolitical differences
Assess and discuss the importance of an issue
Explain development |
Compare Europeto the rest of the world
Create comparisons of Europe internally
Relate Europe to their previous learning |
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Key vocabulary |
Greenhouse effect
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Renewable/Non-renewable
Carbon |
Development
Slum
Sustainability
AC/LIDC
Monsoon
Population pyramid |
Crust, mantle, inner and outer core
Plate tectonics
Tsunami
Volcano
Glacier |
Globalisation
Social, economic and environmental
Fair trade
Palm oil |
Political
HEP
Sparsely/densely
Piracy
Fetch |
EU
Migration
Culture
Borders
Historical factors |
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Assessment |
To ensure consistency of assessment across the year for students we use the following model:
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Year 9
Geography Year 9 Progression Grid Link
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Autumn |
Spring |
Summer |
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Area of study: |
Geology |
Earthquakes |
What is an economy? |
Geopolitics |
Australia |
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What should they know? |
What geology is What the three types of rocks are A geological timescale At least one theory for why dinosaurs went extinct. What continental drift is |
The structure of the earth The four types of plate margins What the richter scale is and what the focus and epicentre are Ways a building can be built to be earthquake proof. Issues with living in hazardous zones Two differing case studies - one in an LIDC and one in an AC |
What an economy is
What the four industry sectors are
What imports and exports are in the UK
What globalisation is
What fair trade is |
What Geopolitics is
Russia - Russia’s borders and Russian conflict
Middle east - How oil shapes the future of the middle east Past and religious divides due to Geography
China - CHina’s past and present place in the world |
Mapping Australia
Australia's different biomes and climatic zones
Australia's climate and impact of climate change on Australia
The great barrier reef
Coral reef theory
Coral reef tourism
The daintree rainforest |
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What should they be able to do? |
Describe the three rock types. Explain what a geological timescale is and link it to rock development, species development and land development |
Describe the structure of the earth and how it impacts humans. Explain how buildings can be designed to reduce the impact of earthquakes and compare rich and poor countries when in a disaster. |
Explain what an economy is and how the different sectors link together. Ex[plain how the UK trades with nations around the world and how this links to economic improvement and environmental/social degradation. |
How relationships between governments are forged and how borders create conflict and power |
Describe the climate and ecosystems within Australia and how wide ranging the country is. Link Australia to ‘ecosystem’ development at GCSE. |
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Key vocabulary |
Geological Igneous Metamorphic Sedimentary Extinction |
Epicentre Focus Mantle Plate boundaries Seismic hazard |
Primary Secondary Tertiary Quartenerey Trade |
Political War Border Relationships |
Biome Region Hemisphere Ecosystem |
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Assessment |
To ensure consistency of assessment across the year for students we use the following model:
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KS4
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GCSE Geography: What our pupils should be able to know and do
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Paper 1 - Living in the UK today
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Landscapes of the UK
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People of the UK
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Environmental challenges of the UK
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Identify the characteristics of upland and lowland regions in the UK and describe where upland and lowland regions are found in the UK Describe the 3 types of weathering - mechanical, chemical and biological Describe the 2 mass movements - sliding and slumping Identify what erosion, transportation and deposition is Describe the 4 types of erosion - hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and corrasion (solution) Describe the 4 types of transportation - traction, saltation, suspension and solution Explain the formation of: v shaped valleys, waterfalls/gorges, meanders and ox bow lakes, floodplains and levees, headlands and bays, caves/arch’s/stacks/stumps, beaches and spits
CASE STUDY - River WYE
Geomorphic processes at work in the river basin How Geology and climate influence the area Landforms in the river and how they are formed How humans have impacted the area through management
CASE STUDY - Happisburgh (Norfolk coast)
Geomorphic processes at work on this coastline How Geology and climate influence the area Landforms in the case study and how they are formed How humans have impacted the area through management
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Identify the UK's major trading partner countries as well as major imports and exports Describe how diverse the UK is in terms of employment, average income, life expectancy as well as educational attainment and access to broadband. Describe the causes of uneven development in the UK including geographic location as well as economic change, infrastructure and government policy
CASE STUDY - Salford Quays
How the area has changed from 1800's to now The consequences of economic decline The consequences of economic growth
Describe how the UK's population has changed from 1900 to now Explain how the demographic transition model works and the UK's position on it Identify what an ageing population is and explain the causes, effects and responses to an ageing population in the UK Outline the flows of immigration into the UK in the last 20 years and explain the social and economic impacts of this immigration Explain the causes as well as the social, economic and environmental impacts of suburbanisation in the UK Explain the causes as well as the social, economic and environmental impacts of counter-urbanisation in the UK Explain the causes as well as the social, economic and environmental impacts of re-urbanisation in the UK
CASE STUDY – Manchester
Where the city is in it's region, country and wider world The impact of national and international migration on it's character and growth The way of life in the city such as culture, ethnicity and housing Challenges the city faces such as housing availability, transport provision and waste management Sustainable strategies to overcome these challenges - metro system, bins and new housing
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Identify the five air masses that impact the UK Describe what continentality is Explain how air masses, the North Atlantic drift and continentality influence the UK’s weather Explain how these air masses cause extreme weather in the UK (wind, temperature and precipitation)
CASE STUDY - Somerset levels flooding 2014
What caused the flooding including any extreme weather The effects of the flood on the people and the environment How the flood was managed at local and national scale
Describe how the mechanisation of fishing and farming in the UK provides food Describe how wind farms and fracking provide energy Describe how reservoirs and water transfer schemes provide water Identify renewable energy and non-renewable energy sources and their advantages and disadvantages Describe the contribution of these energy sources to the UK's energy supply Describe the patterns of energy supply and demand in the UK since 1950 to 2025 Explain how these changes have been influenced by the government and international organisations Explain how energy use and management can be made sustainable at local and national scale in the UK Describe and explain the development of renewable energy in the UK and the impacts of this on the people and the environment Evaluate whether or not non-renewable energy should contribute to the future of the UK's energy supply Describe the economic, political and environmental factors affecting the energy supply of the UK in the future
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Paper 2 – The world around us
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Ecosystems of the planet |
People of the planet |
Environmental threats to our planet |
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Identify both the abiotic (weather, climate, soil) and biotic (plants, animals, humans) features of an ecosystem Describe the characteristics (climate, plants and animals) of polar regions, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, tropical grasslands, temperate grasslands and hot deserts Describe the distribution around the world of polar regions, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, tropical grasslands, temperate grasslands and hot deserts Describe the location of the world’s rainforests Describe the location of the world’s coral reefs Explain the processes that operate within tropical rainforests, including the nutrient and water cycles and structure of the rainforest Explain the nutrient cycle that operates within coral reefs
CASE STUDY - Amazon rainforest
Describe the political and economic context of Brazil and Peru Explain the interdependence of climate, soil, water, plants, animals and humans Explain the value of the rainforest to humans and the planet Explain how the biodiversity is under threat and how we are trying to manage it more sustainably
CASE STUDY - Andros coral reef
Describe the political and economic context of the Bahamas Explain the interdependence of sea temperature, water, coral, fish and humans Explain the value of the coral reef to humans and the planet Explain how the biodiversity is under threat and how we are trying to manage it more sustainably
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Define the different types of development (social, economic and environmental) Define the concept of sustainable development Explain the advantages and disadvantages of a range of development indicators (including GNI per capita, Human development index and internet users) Explain how development indicators show the consequences of uneven development Define and describe the current pattern of AC's EDC's and LIDC's Explain the causes of uneven development (including the impact of colonialism and use of natural resources) Describe the four different types of aid Explain the advantages and disadvantages of Goat aid as a sustainable form of aid Explain how these different types of aid can help or hinder development
CASE STUDY - Ethiopia (LIDC/EDC)
Explain how Ethiopia's economic development has been impacted by its: location, environment, politics, relationships with other countries, trade (imports and exports) international investment, population, employment structure, access to education, healthcare, technological developments and goat aid Explain how the Rostow model works Identify and explain Ethiopia's development on the Rostow model as well as Ethiopia's relationship with other countries, imports and exports, access to healthcare and education and political development
Define a city, world city and a mega city Describe the global distribution of megacities and how this has changed overtime Explain how urban growth rates vary across the world because of development Explain the causes (push/pull factors and natural growth) of rapid urbanisation in LIDC's Explain the social, economic and environmental consequences of rapid urbanisation in LIDC's
CASE STUDY - Mumbai (Major city in LIDC/EDC)
Explain its regional, national and international importance Explain how national and international migration have influenced Mumbai's character and growth Describe Mumbai's way of life (culture, ethnicity, housing, leisure, consumption) Explain the contemporary challenges that affect urban change in Mumbai (housing, transport, waste management) Explain the sustainable strategies used in Mumbai to overcome the city's challenges - resettlement / electrification
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Describe how our climate has changed from the beginning of the Quaternary period to the present day Describe key periods of climate change (medieval warming, little ice age and modern warming) Describe different types of evidence for climate change (global temperature data, ice cores, tree rings, paintings and diaries) Explain the theories which say that climate change is natural (variations in the suns energy, changes in the earth’s orbit and volcanic activity) Explain the theories which say that human activity is responsible for the enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming Explain the global nature of the consequences of climate change Describe the main climatic regions of the world Explain how the global circulation of the atmosphere is controlled by the movement of air between the poles and the equator Explain how the global circulation of the atmosphere leads to extreme weather conditions (wind, temperature, precipitation) in different parts of the world Explain the causes of extreme weather that are associated with tropical storms and drought. Describe the distribution and frequency of tropical storms
CASE STUDY - Drought caused by El Nino / La Nina (The big dry, Australia)
Explain how the conditions across the pacific lead to atmospheric changes. Explain how this was caused by El Nino and what effects it had on people / the environment Explain how people have adapted to the drought caused by El Nino.
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GCSE Exam Information:
OCR A
Paper 1 - Living in the UK today
- UK landscapes
- People of the UK
- UK environmental challenges
30% - 1 Hour - 60 marks
Paper 2 - The world around us
- Ecosystems of the planet
- People of the planet
- Environmental threats to our planet
30% - 1 Hour - 60 marks
Paper 3 - Geographical skills
- Geographical fieldwork – the two compulsory trips
- Unseen problems using Geographical skills
40% - 1.5 Hours - 80 marks
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