Geography Intent
The CGA Geography curriculum enriches students understanding of the world to help them understand their experiences within local, regional and global systems; to empower them with geographical knowledge and skills to make informed judgements about the challenges the world currently faces and acknowledge their role in securing a sustainable future for the planet for all of humanity.
Subject Overview
Geography is one of the most popular option subjects at Chestnut Grove, with over 80 students currently studying the A Level course and 260 students currently studying GCSE Geography. Our Geography curriculum strives to challenge our students through our diverse and inclusive teaching strategies, and expose them to a pluralism of perspective to ensure students leave us critical thinkers and geographers. Geography is an extremely relevant subject as it helps us to explore and understand space and place - recognising the great differences in cultures, political systems, economies, landscapes and environments across the world, and exploring the links between them.
Students investigate a range of topics from geopolitical tensions to volcanic eruptions and use a use a variety of geographical skills such as analysing different statistical and graphical figures and photographs, engaging with other students through dialogic learning and evaluating issues on a number of scales. Students develop literacy, knowledge and comprehension skills by producing various written pieces throughout the key stages. They also have the opportunity to express themselves in more visual and creative methods, such as producing poster presentations or debating global issues and potential ways forward in the classroom.
Qualifications / Curriculum offer
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Journey:
Pupils study Geography for 2 hours per week. Each year, pupils study a combination of physical and human topics and are assessed through a number of assessed pieces of work including essays, poster presentations, debating and interim exams.
Key Stage 4
Pupils study the AQA Geography syllabus which is assessed through three examinations in Year 11; physical fieldwork is based upon a residential in the Peak District National Park and human fieldwork is about regeneration in London. Topics include:
Living with the physical environment
The challenge of natural hazards: Tectonics, Weather and Climate Change
The living world: Ecosystems, Tropical Rainforests and Cold Environments
Physical landscapes in the UK: Coasts and Rivers
Challenges in the human environment
Urban issues and challenges: London, Rio de Janeiro and Sustainable Cities
The changing economic world: The Development Gap, Nigeria as a rapidly growing economy and the Changing UK Economy
The challenge of resource management: Energy, Food and Water in the UK and Global Water Insecurity
Results :
Key Stage 5
At Chestnut Grove Academy we follow the Edexcel A Level Geography specification
What will I learn?
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Globalisation: What are the causes, implications and ways to manage our increasingly connected world?
Regeneration: How can we cope with the changes to our rural/urban landscapes?
Coasts: What processes are at work along coastlines? How do we manage them? Who are the next environmental refugees?
Tectonics: What is involved with a tectonic shift and how can this be managed?
Superpowers: Who are the world's superpowers and how can the resulting conflicts be managed?
Carbon and Water Cycles: Are we in a world water crisis? Is there a sustainable future for climate change? What are the physical, political and environmental implications of these natural processes?
Health, human rights and intervention: Is freedom of expression essential to development?
What are the global variations in health and human rights? How can these be managed and what are the implications of this? |
How will I learn?
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Teacher led activities, individual and group work, presentations, discussions, debates. You will use newspapers, TV programmes and digital resources to research current geographical issues. You will also undertake fieldwork on a fieldtrip to Swanage. There is also an opportunity to visit Iceland in a non-compulsory trip in Year 12. |
How will I be assessed?
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Paper 1: Coasts, Tectonics and Carbon and Water Cycles– 30%
Paper 2: Globalisation, Superpowers, Regenerating Places and Health, human rights and intervention – 30%
Paper 3: Synoptic paper – 20%
NEA: Non-examined assessment coursework – 20% |
What can I do with my qualification?
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Geography is seen by employers as a subject that produces a worldly wise person who is equipped with suitable skills for the workplace. We undertake project work and push students to work independently. The 20% NEA element gives you the opportunity to do a piece of work which reflects geography in the real world. Since geography equips you with many skills and marries the sciences and humanities, it keeps your options open and works well with many other subjects. The evaluation and decision making skills develop your ability to critically analyse world issues. |
Results :
Staffing: