Our intention is to help students understand key ideas that affect their lives today. The course is designed to enable students to understand the geography of the UK, alongside global geography topics. This includes:

Year 7

My Local Place – Market Harborough’s location within the UK and the world. This module requires practice of map reading skills such as 4 and 6 figure grid references.

Fantastic Places – A study of differing locations from equator to the poles. This includes looking at the climatic conditions of each location as well as the plants and animals that live there.

Africa – A study of the Horn of Africa as a region. This module considers the challenges faced by people living within the Horn of Africa as well as opportunities for development.

Connected World – A study of the changing world of work. This leads on to the causes and effects of globalisation.

Geography in the field – A skills-based unit introducing investigation skills.

Year 8

Risky World – Studying the structure of the Earth before focusing on the formation and impacts of different types of volcanoes and Earthquakes.

Challenging Cities – A study of the causes and effects of rapid urbanisation. This module also looks at the development of slum settlements and the challenges faced by those living there.

Ice Age – A module that looks at changes in the global climates as well as the long-lasting Geographical features left behind by glacial processes.

Blue Planet – A study of the issues facing the world’s oceans and marine life.

Sustainable Futures – An investigation into how humans can live a more sustainable life.

Year 9

Extreme Weather – A study of weather and climate in the UK, investigating extreme weather events including extreme heat and snow fall, and a comparison with extreme weather in the USA.

Russia – A module that investigates the physical Geography of Russia including climate and biomes as well as compares the east of Russia from the west in terms of population density, structure, and employment type.

Asian Contrasts – A comparison of 2 Asian countries; China and India to study the variations in population, employment type, government, and role within a wider global community.

Wild Water – A study of river processes that lead to the formation of river features such as waterfalls and meanders, as well as causes and impacts of floods

Cracking Coasts – Following on from Wild Water, students will apply and develop their understanding of Geographical processes that leads to the formation of coastal features including spits, bars, bays, and headlands.

Year 10 (GCSE Year) Expertise

Hazards – Tectonic Hazards: A study of the causes, impacts and management of tectonic hazards including earthquakes

Hazards – Weather Hazards: A study of the causes, impacts and management of weather hazards including tropical storms

Hazards – Climate Change: A study of the causes, consequences and management of climate change

Urban issues – A NEE case study of a megacity to understand the causes, consequences and management of rapid urbanisation

Urban issues – A study of a UK city to understand the causes, consequences and management of urban change

Human Geography fieldwork – An investigation into the variations in environmental quality and housing quality in a UK urban area

Year 11 (GCSE Year) Expertise

The Changing Economic World – A study of development including an in depth study of the development of a NEE

The Changing Economic World – A study of the causes and consequences of the changing economy of the UK

Issues Analysis – Developing the analytical skills relating to issues analysis

AQA (9-1) GCSE

The GCSE Geography course aims to provide students with a broad knowledge of Geography. Students will cover physical and human Geography topics with a focus on the UK and a Newly Emerging Economy (India).

It is important to remember that Geography is not just about maps and facts. It is about understanding how the natural world works, how humans affect the natural world and how the natural world affects humans; and where these interactions create problems, it is about looking for solutions.

Studying Geography will develop your ability to think clearly and logically, research, analyse, hypothesise, evaluate and make decisions. There is also a focus on developing writing skills, which complements many other subjects in the curriculum.

Assessment

The GCSE is assessed by three exam papers, sat at the end of Year 11. These exams include; one physical Geography exam (The Living World, Hazards and Physical landscapes), one human Geography exam (The Changing Economic World, Urban Issues and Resource management) and one Geographical skills exam (Both Human and Physical field work and a pre-release). All students sit the same exam papers.