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KS3 GEOGRAPHY The curriculum is set out for Years 7 – 9 as a series of inter-linked Programmes of Study. These Programmes of Study have been designed through the use of common aims, domains and objectives. Aims To encourage Students to develop: 1. A sense of place and an understanding of relative location on a local, regional and global scale. 2. An awareness of the characteristics of contrasting physical and human environments. 3. An awareness and understanding of some of the processes affecting the development of such environments. 4. An awareness and understanding of different communities and cultures throughout the world and an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments. Domains In working towards these aims, the following domains will be covered through the Programmes of Study whilst the objectives listed below will be achieved:- 1. Geographical Skills 2. Knowledge and Understanding 3. Judgement and Decision-Making Objectives
1. Geographical Skills Students should be able to show competence in the following:
a) Use of a variety of sources for obtaining information e.g. maps and plans at a variety of scales, audio-visual material, documentary material, statistics and information presented in graphs. b) Depiction of information in simple map and diagrammatic form. c) Selection, use and presentation of geographical information in an appropriate and effective manner. 2. Knowledge and Understanding Students should be able to show knowledge and understanding of:
a) A variety of geographical processes which lead to physical and human environments. b) The inter-relationship between human activities and the physical environment. c) A selection of contrasting places at different scales. 3. Judgement and Decision-Making Students should be able to demonstrate:
a) The ability to reason and make judgements which demonstrate understanding of the effects of mans’ activities on the environment. b) An appreciation of different attitudes, beliefs and values concerning cultural, economic, environmental, political and social issues which concern geographers. c) The importance of the role of the decision-maker and the influence and constraints within which they operate. Programmes of Study The Programmes of Study in each year are as follows: Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
IGCSE GEOGRAPHY Syllabus The Geography Department follows the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) syllabus as provided by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Aims The aims of the syllabus are the same for all students. The aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of a course in Geography for the IGCSE examination. The aims are to encourage students to develop: 1. a sense of place and an understanding of relative location on a local, regional and global scale; 2. an awareness of the characteristics and distribution of a selection of contrasting physical and human environments; 3. an understanding of some of the processes affecting the development of such environments; 4. an understanding of the spatial effects of the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environments; 5. an understanding of different communities and cultures throughout the world and an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments. Scheme of assessment All candidates will take Paper 1, Paper 2 and Paper 3. Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes) Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes) Paper 3 Coursework (School-based assessment). Two school-based assignments, each assignment should consist of an average of 1200 to 1500 words. Curriculum content The curriculum is divided into three themes which are collectively designed to develop an understanding of both the natural and the human environment: 1. Population and Settlement 1.1 Population dynamics 1.2 Settlement 2. The Natural Environment 2.1 Plate tectonics 2.2 Landforms and landscape processes 2.3 Weather, climate and natural vegetation 2.4 Inter-relationships between the natural environment and human activities 3. Economic Development and the Use of Resources 3.1 Agricultural 3.2 Industrial systems 3.4 Energy and water 3.5 Environmental risks and benefits: resource conservation and management AS AND A2 GEOGRAPHY Syllabus The Geography Department follows the General Certificate of Education (International) syllabus as provided by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Aims The aims of the syllabus are the same for all students. The aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of a course in Geography for the GCE examination. The aims are to: • develop awareness of the relevance of geographical analysis to understanding and solving contemporary human and environmental problems; • introduce students to the main components of Physical and Human Geography and the interrelationships between these components; • encourage an understanding of the principal processes operating at different scales within Physical and Human Geography; • develop a sense of relative location, including an appreciation of the complexity and variety of natural and human environments; • demonstrate and explain the causes and effects of change over space and time on the natural and human environment; • demonstrate the importance of scale in understanding Physical and Human Geography; • make students aware of the problems of explanation (including data collection and processing) in Physical and Human Geography, and to give them an appreciation of the nature, value, limitations and importance of different approaches to analysis and explanation in Geography. • increase knowledge of, and ability to use and apply, appropriate skills and techniques relevant to the greater understanding and interpretation of facts and relationships in Physical and Human Geography; • encourage a concern for accuracy and objectivity in collecting, recording, processing, analysing, interpreting and reporting data in a spatial context; • develop the ability to handle and evaluate different types and sources of information; • develop the skill to think logically, and to present an ordered and coherent argument in a variety of ways; • promote an appreciation of the need for understanding, respect and co-operation in conserving the environment and improving the quality of life at both a global scale and within the context of different cultural settings. Scheme of assessment Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level candidates will take: PAPER 1 CORE GEOGRAPHY 3 HOURS 100% Advanced Level candidates will take: PAPER 1 CORE GEOGRAPHY 3 HOURS 50% PAPER 2 ADVANCED PHYSICAL OPTIONS 11/2 HOURS 25% PAPER 3 ADVANCED HUMAN OPTIONS 11/2 HOURS 25% Curriculum content The curriculum is divided into three sections: 1. Core Geography for examination in Paper 1. 2. Advanced Physical Geography Options for examination in Paper 2. 3. Advanced Human Geography Options for examination in Paper 3. Core Geography Physical Core 1. Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology 1.1 The drainage basin system 1.2 Rainfall – discharge relationships within drainage basins 1.3 River channel processes and landforms 1.4 The human impact 2. Atmosphere and weather 2.1 Local energy budgets 2.2 The global energy budget 2.3 Weather processes and phenomena 2.4 The human impact 3. Rocks and weathering 3.1 Elementary plate tectonics 3.2 Weathering and rocks 3.3 Slope processes and development 3.4 The human impact Human Core 1. Population 1.1 Natural increase as a component of population change 1.2 Demographic transition 1.3 Population-resource relationships 1.4 The management of natural increase 2. Migration 2.1 Migration as a component of population change 2.2 Internal migration (within a country) 2.3 International migration 2.4 A case study of international migration 3. Settlement dynamics 3.1 Changes in rural settlements 3.2 Urban trends and issues of urbanisation 3.3 The changing structure of urban settlements 3.4 The management of urban settlements Advanced Physical Geography Options Coastal environments 1. Wave, marine and sub-aerial processes 2. Coastal landforms of cliffed and constructive coasts 3. Coral reefs 4. Sustainable management of coasts Arid and semi-arid environments 1. The distribution and climatic characteristics of hot arid and semi-arid environments 2. Processes producing desert landforms 3. Soils and vegetation 4. Sustainable management of arid and semi-arid environments Advanced Human Geography Options Environmental management 1. Sustainable energy supplies 2. The management of energy supply 3. Environmental degradation 4. The management of a degraded environment Global interdependence 1. Trade flows and trading patterns 2. Debt and aid and their management 3. The development of international tourism 4. The management of a tourist destination |