What is our vision in Geography ?
At Oathall we aim to provide a curriculum that engenders an interconnected and sustainable future.. We are also experiencing a ‘climate emergency’ and as such we aim to ensure that the geography curriculum at Oathall leads our students on a path to sustainability for themselves and others. We also aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. Crucially we want the geography curriculum to be as broad as we can and for it to engender excitement, creativity and critical thinking about the world. We expect our curriculum to equip our young people with the knowledge and transferable skills to make their own way in it. We want to inspire our students with a fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them though the rest of their lives.
A curriculum which provides transferable skills and synoptic links within the subject and across others is also important. It is essential for pupils to develop skills. When pupils learn the curriculum they are able to analyse, evaluate and solve problems using what they have learned. Our curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge and skills that are progressive as well as transferable, throughout their time at Oathall Community College and beyond into their adult lives.We seek to provide a curriculum that embeds literacy which is proven to improve life chances. Based on our research we are committed to improving the geographical literacy of all our students.
We also aim to create a curriculum which ensures progression. We aim for all Geography teachers and students to understand what it means to get better at geography .We recognise that parents are the primary educators of their children. We encourage parental involvement in as many ways as possible – see below for advice. Finally, it is our intention to ensure that the knowledge and skills are not forgotten and can be used beyond our student’s time at Oathall.
Geography curriculum learning journey
Geography at KS3
In Year 7, students cover topics including rivers and flooding, extreme weather, map skills and profile the country of Kenya. In Year 8 they tackle development issues, climate and weather, tectonics and coasts. They also do a country profile about China. Year 9s look at tourism, GIS, map skills, glaciation and ecosystems.
Curriculum learning grid in Y7
Curriculum learning grid in Y8
Curriculum learning grid in Y9
Support for students
Key word lists are issued and are uploaded onto the Google classroom.
Knowledge organisers for every test are provided which guide students towards what to revise and provide useful information on how to succeed in Geography tests. Again – all uploaded onto the Google classrooms.
All lessons are posted onto the Google classroom allowing students to revisit lessons or to fill in the gaps should there have been an absence.
The Geography section of BBC Bitesize also has some useful support as well as Mapzone.
Geography at KS4
Throughout the course, students will have literacy key word tests, end of topic tests and mock exams
Assessment in the summer exams are as follows: Question types: multiple-choice, short answer, levels of response, extended prose.
Paper 1 – 1hr 30 mins – Living With the Physical Environment
The challenge of natural hazards,The living world, Physical landscapes in the UK, Geographical skills
Paper 2 – 1hr 30 mins – Challenges in the Urban Environment
Urban issues and challenges, The changing economic world, The challenge of resource management, Geographical skills
Paper 3 – Issue evaluation- 1 hr 15 mins
Fieldwork, Geographical skills
Extended Learning Opportunities in Geography
- Year 7
- On site: Fantastic Places – Local issue (EQS survey)
- Off site: Cuckmere Haven
- Year 8
- On site: Microclimates
- Off site: Newhaven and Seaford coastal enquiry
- Year 9
- Onsite: Virtual tour of windfarm – Rampion
- Off site: Alfriston tourism
- Year 10
- Urban issues and development trip to Brighton
- Rivers trip to Ashdown Forest
Further Education & Career Pathways in Geography
Support for students
All lessons and text book pages are uploaded onto Google classrooms to help students revisit things covered in class or to fill in gaps during absence.
We also recommend that students supplement their study by watching GCSE pods.
Students can go to BBC Bitesize GCSE AQA
The GCSE geography AQA website also has some useful information
Purchase the AQA A revision guide
DFE National Curriculum in England
How can parents and carers support learning ?
Parents can support their child by encouraging them to learn their geographical key words which enables students to ‘write and think like a geographer’. Knowledge of key words also helps students to decode questions in exams too.
We ask students to make flash cards for keyword tests and for end of topic tests.Please can you test your students using their flashcards. Retrieving the information through quizzing is a proven way to help make the information ‘stick’.
We also suggest that parents encourage their child to be aware of what’s happening in the news. Geography is very relevant to everyday life and often much of what we study is covered in the news.Therefore looking at trusted news websites such as bbc.co.uk or guardian.org or are really good places to find out what’s happening and to keep-up-to date with the latest news. Parents can also encourage wider reading from the wider reading list to foster an interest into the subject and engender a broader geographical understanding.
Marking & Assessment Protocol in Geography
