Geography
Teaching and Learning
The department is based in a modern purpose built block with three classrooms, office and storage room. In Key Stage 3 the students receive three lessons per fortnight and are taught in mixed ability tutor or teaching groups. At Key Stage 3 we study a range of physical and human units: Year 7- Map skills, Rivers, Africa and Limestone; Year 8- Tourism, Antarctica, Tectonics, Coasts and Development; Year 9- Changing China, Geography of Conflict, Ecosystems and Weather. The students are assessed in a variety of different ways ranging from formal exams to presentations.
At Key Stage 4 geography is a popular GCSE option choice, having seven groups in Year 10 and 11. Students receive five one-hour periods per fortnight and follow the AQA ‘A’ specification. In Year 10 they presently study Natural Hazards, Urban World, Coasts and Rivers, whilst in Year 11 Economic Geography, Ecosystems and Resource Geography are studied.
At A Level the department continues its association with AQA. It is a two year course and students study six modules: water and carbon, changing places, natural hazards, changing urban environments, hot deserts and global governance. There is also a fieldwork element, with students completing their own investigation into an area of interest and completing a 2000 word report.
Study visits and trips
We offer a wide range of trips at all Key Stages. In Year 7 students visit the limestone caves of Burrington Coombe. In Year 8 students visit Lulworth Cove to explore the coastal geography and tourism. We offer a 3 day residential trip to Swanage in Term 6 of Year 9 for students going on to study GCSE and this gives them an introduction to some of the topics studied. At GCSE we offer two days of fieldwork focusing on human and physical geography. At A Level there are a range of visits to urban and coastal locations during the course, as well as opportunities to attend events at University of Bath. These trips are an important way to develop knowledge and deepen understanding.