Geography

All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 study Geography for 105 minutes per week. Units of work are chosen to meet the requirements of the national curriculum as well as departmental aims. The programme of study has been purposely developed to reflect different scales. The department uses a variety of resources and stimulus material rather than any one particular set of core texts.

GCSE students at Alum Bay, Isle of Wight (2007)

Geography at PGHS aims to:-

• tackle the big issues facing the world today such as environmental responsibility, global interdependence and cultural understanding and tolerance.
• Bring about an awareness of various human and physical environments, an understanding of their formation and the impacts they have on people and the world.
• equip students with an array of skills which can further their awareness of the subject and be applied to situations away from the classroom both now and in the future.
• ensure students possess a good knowledge of places across the world.

Curriculum

In Year 7 students learn Geography in a national context (The UK). In Year 8 students look at the distinctive characteristics of different regions. The final year of compulsory Geography learning provides students with an opportunity to find out how the subject can be studied on a global level.

GCSE students at Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight (2008).

Year 7

What is Geography?/ The Geography of the UK/ Working with Maps/ Weather & Climate/ Where People Live/ The Issue of Sustainability

Year 8

The Geography of Europe/ The Geography of South America/ The Geography of Southern England/International Day Preparations

Year 9

The World’s Population/ Global Resources/ The Global Fashion Industry Plate Tectonics/ The Issue of Trade, Aid & Debt

GCSE Geography

GCSE Geography at PGHS follows the Edexcel ‘A’ Specification. Since September 2009, the GCSE course has become ‘modular’ allowing students to sit examinations throughout the two years rather than only at the end of Year 11. In total there are 3 units assessed by way of an examination. In addition a piece of coursework is completed representing 25% of the final grade.

A residential field course to the Isle of Wight has been established in recent years and provides students with the opportunity to gather the primary data needed to complete the compulsory coursework element of the course.

Extra Curricular Activities

Fieldwork

Teaching and learning outside of the classroom is considered invaluable by both the Geography department and wider school. To this end, efforts are made to provide students in every year group with the opportunity to go on field trips and complete field work. For example:

Year 8 students at Studland Bay, Dorset (2008)

Year 7

Working with Ordnance Survey maps in the local area. Field work in the London Docklands area considering sustainable development.

Year 8

Residential field course to the south coast of England completing a range of field work relating to human, physical and environmental Geography.

Year 9

Workshops on renewable energy and global warming at the National Maritime Museum. Visiting the National History Museum to further understand tectonic processes.

A Geography Surgery is also run for Years 7 to 9 for students who want to further develop their interest in this subject.

Senior 8 students celebrating International Day (Bangladesh 2008)

Year 10

Field trip to the towns of Bracknell and Reading to enhance case study knowledge.

Year 11

Residential field course to the Isle of Wight for the purposes of collecting primary data for the completion of coursework.

International Day

In addition to the many activities taking place during the year, a highlight is the annual International Day. Led by the Geography Department, Year 8 students spend time researching and presenting displays on the geography, culture, music and religion of a range of different countries in the world.

Exam Results

The Geography Department has a history of excellent results. In 2011, 100% of students achieved A*- A grades. Each year a number of Year 11 students opt to continue with Geographical studies at their chosen sixth form school.