Geography

AIMS

Geography is everywhere and we want to bring this to life. We aim to inspire all pupils and students at QEGS to develop an enquiring mind into the world around them. The topics we cover encourage pupils and students to think not just globally or nationally but allow them to recognise the importance of processes locally too. Geography has a key role in ensuring all pupils and students become informed global citizens who have the confidence and skills necessary to question and understand the diverse world around them. Geography is taught by experienced, enthusiastic, and passionate subject specialists, it allows pupils and students to understand, describe and explain the everchanging landscape of the modern world. We look at how physical systems have an impact on human systems and vice versa. We will ask the big questions and try to answer them.

CURRICULUM

At KS3 geography is a compulsory subject, four lessons per cycle in Years 7 and 8

Year 7

  • QEGS Project
    • Pupils study the human and physical geography of Blackburn before exploring ‘Sense of Place’ and conducting an investigation into how the QEGS environment affects its sense of place. Pupils will make a documentary on QEGS incorporating what they have learnt in history and geography
  • Fantastic and Impossible Places
    • Pupils explore fantastic and impossible places around the world including Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Antarctica, UK Landscapes including river and coastal landscapes.
  • BRIC
    • Pupils will investigate life, physical and human geographies in the newly emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Pupils will explore the climate, ecosystems and economic characteristics of each country.
  • Changing Places
    • Pupils will explore what influences change in a place and learn how to conduct a geographical enquiry by investigating how Morecambe has changed over time and how it is likely to change in the future.

Year 8

  • Before the flood
    • In this unit, pupils will explore weather and climate through the study of National Geographic’s Before the Pupils will study the causes and effects of climate change, the role of climate activists and how climate change can be managed. Pupils will also explore weather in the UK and the likely effects of climate change on future patterns of UK weather.
  • Tropic of Cancer
    • In this unit, pupils will investigate the human and physical geographies of countries along the Tropic of Cancer including the USA’s impact on its neighbours, the geography of conflict, water stress in northern Africa, sustainable development in Dubai and the effects of climate change in Bangladesh.
  • Tectonic Hazards
    • Pupils will explore how tectonic hazards of earthquakes and volcanoes happen and how populations manage to live with the risk of tectonic hazards. Pupils will investigate why the effects and responses to tectonic hazards differ between higher income and lower-income countries.
  • The Development Gap
    • In this unit, pupils explore global inequalities, the causes of uneven development, the role of trade and aid, and how inequalities can be reduced through Fairtrade and sustainable development.
  • Migration Project
    • In this unit, pupils investigate reasons why people migrate through push and pull factors. Pupils will also discover how migration changes places and will complete a final cross-curricular project with history exploring British identity.

Year 9

At GCSE pupils must study Geography or History. We follow AQA Geography is taught in five lessons per cycle in Years 9, 10, and 11.

  • Urban challenges
    • The global pattern of urban change
    • Urban growth in Rio de Janerio
    • Urban challenges in the UK
    • Sustainable development of urban areas
  • Physical landscapes in the UK
    • The physical diversity of the UK
    • Coastal landscapes
    • River landscapes

Year 10

  • The challenge of natural hazards
    • Natural hazards
    • Tectonic hazards across the world
    • Weather hazards in the UK
    • Climate change and its impact on the UK
  • The living world
    • Ecosystems
    • Tropical rainforests
    • Hot deserts or cold environments
  • The challenge of resource management
    • Global resource management
    • Resources in the UK
    • Food or Water or Energy use in the UK

Year 11

  • The changing economic world
    • Economic development and quality of life
    • Reducing the global development gap
    • Economic development in Nigeria
    • Economic change in the UK
  • Geographical issues and field investigations

The course is examined in three exams, a physical paper, human paper and an issue evaluation paper where fieldwork skills will also be assessed.

FACILITIES AND RESOURCES

All geography rooms are equipped with overhead projectors and students have the opportunity to complete investigations within one of the many computer suites across the school.

At KS4 and KS5 pupils and students have digital access to a relevant textbook to accompany their studies.

As a department, we subscribe to Geography Review, GeoFactsheet, GeoScience and are members of the Geographical Association.

We have a vast library of geographical videos, OS Maps, atlas’ and textbooks for use within lessons. To allow pupils and students to participate fully in fieldwork opportunities we have all equipment necessary to complete river studies, climate investigations and geological studies.

TRIPS AND VISITS

Our fieldwork trips bring the processes we have studied within the classroom to life. Every year group conducts an investigation where all pupils and students collect, analyse, present and interpret the data collected in the field.

In Year 7 all pupils will investigate how Morecambe, Lancashire has changed over time as part of their changing places unit.

In Year 8 all pupils will investigate weather and climate and the role of the media in reporting climate change and the vital role of weather forecasting with a tour of BBC studios in Media City, Salford. Pupils will also conduct sustainability investigations and a microclimate study of the surrounding area.

At GCSE pupils conduct investigations into coastal management along the Fylde coast and regeneration in Liverpool.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

Various extra-curricular opportunities exist at QEGS for budding Geographers.

Geography clinics are an important activity for Year 10 and Year 11 pupils who are given a timetable of topics that will be covered to give an extra boost for exam skills and problem topics.

We also regularly run trips to Iceland and plan to go even further afield in the coming years.

Uganda Good Samaritan Primary School, Kampala

Mrs. Albiston leads a project to raise funds for the Good Samaritan Primary School via The Erasmus Uganda Charitable Trust. Sixth Form students have the opportunity to travel to Uganda to implement positive change in the Primary School, an experience that is win-win for all involved. The project runs every other year due to a large amount of fundraising required, all students are set a personal target to raise £250 each. This is in addition to group fundraising projects like swimming the length of the English Channel in our swimming pool, Afternoon Tea and a Fashion Show. As a school, we have raised over £30,000 since the project began in 2010. Every penny raised by the group goes to the project.

For more information contact:

Mrs. JE Albiston

Subject Lead, Geography

jalbiston@qegsblackburn.com