Key Stage 3

Year 8

Term1 

Introduction to Geography - maps, skills and themes in Geography. Students will learn about physical, human and environmental themes in Geography. They explore maps of continents, oceans, European countries and capitals as well as the UK and NI. Skills focus on map symbols, grid references, scale and direction.

Term 2 

River systems, the water cycle and flooding. Students study the water cycle as well as key river features and their formation. Causes of flooding and the human and physical impacts are investigated. River management is explored in the context of reducing flooding risks.

Term 3

Settlement and sustainability & fieldwork study of Belfast

Students learn about settlement site, development, landuse and hierarchy. They investigate landuse in the suburbs during a fieldwork task and explore how cities can become more sustainable in the future.

Term 1

Resources and climate change

Students study renewable and non-renewable resources, energy production and the change to renewables as well as environmental impacts of energy use and production. The causes and impacts of climate change are investigated and students have the opportunity to identify the actions we can take to reduce our impact on the environment.

Term 2

Population and migration

Topics covered include population change over time, birth and death rates as well as the factors that influence them, population policy and migration. Students investigate multiculturalism, the benefits and the challenges it can bring to society.

Term 3 

Economic Activity & fieldwork visit to Coca Cola Factory

We investigate primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary industries and change in employment patterns over time.  The factory system at Coca Cola is studied when pupils take a tour of the facilities and look at sustainability in industry.

Ecosystems and biodiversity

Our local ecosystem as well as global ecosystems are investigated, pupils examine food chains and energy flows as well as global pressures on the rainforest.

Year 10

Term 1

Natural hazards & plate tectonics

Students define natural hazards and focus on plate tectonics. In this unit, we investigate causes and impacts of earthquakes and volcanoes and focus on their impacts and management. 

Term 2 

Tourism on a global and local scale

Reasons for the global increase in tourism are investigated, pupils identify a range of global attractions and holiday types. Local tourism, cultural tourism, eco tourism and extreme tourism are explored in a place context. The advantages and disadvantages of tourism are evaluated. 

Term 3

Globalisation and development

Measures of development and reasons for variations in levels of development are explored, pupils investigate and evaluate the UN development goals as well as how a country's development and wealth can be improved over time

Key Stage 4

Geography provides students with a wide range of knowledge and skill with a range of physical, human and skills based elements. Students can either opt for a GCSE in Geography (AQA) or an OCN level 2.

The AQA GCSE course is divided into three main components:

Living with the Physical Environment

• The challenge of natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, and extreme weather).
• The living world (ecosystems like tropical rainforests and hot deserts).
• Physical landscapes in the UK (coastal and river environments).

• Urban issues and challenges (growing global cities and sustainable living).
• The changing economic world (global development gaps and newly emerging economies).
• The challenge of resource management (focusing on the global distribution of food, water, or energy).

• Evaluation of a contemporary geographical issue using a pre-released booklet.
• Hands-on fieldwork investigations in two contrasting environments.

Assessment consists of three exam papers taken at the end of Year 12:

• Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment (35% of total GCSE)
• Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment (35% of total GCSE)
• Paper 3: Geographical Applications (30% of total GCSE)

OCN Level 2 Certificate in Reducing Carbon Footprints through Environmental Action 

Students develop an understanding of the impact of carbon dioxide emissions on climate change and how individuals, communities and organisations may contribute to reducing these. They 

Pupils complete four non exam based units over two years focusing on:

• Understanding the role of carbon in climate change
• Fast fashion
• Biodiversity recovery
• Tackling single use plastic

Pupils will engage in learning outside the classroom in a range of eco projects e.g recycling, managing biodiversity, tree planting, reducing litter and plastics. They develop ICT skills, work as part of a group and learn to plan and run events.

Key Stage 5

We follow the CCEA GCE Geography specification, this gives students a broad knowledge and understanding of the processes and challenges facing our world.

At AS level students investigate physical and human geography themes. They explore the processes that shape weather, the relationships between population and resources, settlement, development, ecosystems and weather. They undertake residential fieldwork in both physical and human Geography and develop their ability to gather, evaluate and present information (40% of A level).

At A2 students explore plate tectonics, dynamic coastal environments, tourism and sustainable settlements. They develop decision-making skills and apply these in a real world scenario (60% of A level).

The specification has six units taught and assessed over two years:

Year 13

• Unit AS 1: Physical Geography
• Unit AS 2: Human Geography
• Unit AS 3: Fieldwork Skills and Techniques in Geography

Year 14

• Unit A2 1: Physical  Processes, Landforms and Management
• Unit A2 2: Processes and Issues in Human Geography
• Unit A2 3: Decision Making in Geography.