Curriculum Intent
We aim to enthuse students to appreciate the world that they live in and to create a sense of awe and wonder of the world around them. We want students at Walton Le Dale High School to begin a life-long journey to both understand and to question why things happen in certain ways.
Geography at Walton Le Dale aims to help students to understand the processes and patterns in the physical world around them, examine human cultures and interactions and discover the interrelationship of the physical landscape and the impact of humans on the environment. As active participants in the wider world, we want students to think geographically, live through and with Geography to become Geographers as they encounter the fascinating world around them. They will be curious learners, respectful citizens, aspirational individuals who become motivated achievers.
Programmes of Study
Year 7
Year 7 begins with a unit on UK Geography to help them understand our place in the world, whilst consolidating skills from KS2. Each unit will revisit key skills regularly. Students will then study the following units – Ecosystems; Work, Rest and Play; Weather & Climate; Shaping our Nation and then Development.
Year 8
Year 8 begins with the study of Natural Hazards where students will complete a decision making exercise about a real-world island nation. Students will then study the following units – People & places; Why Africa is so misunderstood; Resources; Geography of Sport.
Year 9
Students will begin by studying with an in depth study of China and India. They will then complete another focused study on the Middle East. These units will consolidate previous learning and support students that chose to study Geography at GCSE.
Year 10 & Year 11
Students will follow the AQA GCSE Geography Syllabus (8035). They will study a mixture of Human and Physical Geography and complete fieldwork.
Marking and Assessment
Students will have regular tests and assessments allowing us to measure their knowledge and understanding of their concepts and skills in geography. Students will receive feedback to help them to improve the quality of their work and to make further progress. The assessments will be a mix of extending writing tasks which will prepare them for the depth required at GCSE and knowledge and skills based assessments.
Examinations
AQA Geography GCSE 9-1
Paper 1 – 35% (1 hour 30 mins) Living with the with the physical environment
Paper 2 – 35% (1 hour 30 mins) Challenges in the urban environment
Paper 3 – 30% (1 hour 30 mins) Geographical applications