Geography
Only the person who has questions can have real understanding. Examples of essential disciplinary questions that are vital to Geography at Blanchelande are:
How do we increase energy security in the future without making climate change worse?
Does human behavior have an impact on the effects of natural disasters, or are they just ‘acts of God’?
How has globalization affected inequality between the developed and developing world?
What benefits do economic migrants and refugees bring to host countries? Why are people often very negative about immigration?
Can physical Geography help us to understand why countries have developed at different rates?
How can an understanding of the UN Sustainable Development Goals help us to live well in a world worth living in?
In Lower Seniors, the curriculum engages students’ curiosity and stirs their imagination, instilling a sense of awe and wonder about the world. They gain a deeper understanding about places and environments and how humans interact with the physical world. As well-rounded geographers and global citizens, students are educated in environmental awareness, ensuring they develop their moral responsibility to protect the earth for future generations. Students gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the complexities of the world, and discover that, in an era of rapid change, Geography uniquely connects political, environmental, economic, cultural, or scientific events.
Year 7
Students embark on their geographical journey with an introduction to the subject through themes such as ‘My World’, ‘Water World’ and ‘Threatened World’, while meanwhile securing and mastering their Ordnance Survey map skills. In addition to studying what makes up the British Isles, students extend their understanding of their world, from oceans, continents and countries to lines of latitude and longitude.
Year 7 students learn about physical and environmental geography themes including river landscapes, flooding and tectonic hazards. In each unit, they begin to make links to human geography interactions and issues.
Year 8
Year 8 students build upon their grasp of physical geography by exploring coastal systems, processes and management, as well as environmental themes of global warming and severe weather, making connections between our human activity and the natural, threatened world.
Through studying population dynamics and issues, students further deepen their engagement with human geography in understanding the world they live in. This includes a case study where students lead an enquiry to solve a migration mystery.
Year 9
Year 9 students continue to broaden their knowledge of geographical issues through studying world development and globalisation. In these human geography-based units, students engage and reflect on some of the big, contemporary and thought-provoking themes including trade, aid, transnational corporations, exploitation, debt that shape our ever changing and shrinking world. As part of their learning about Tourism, Year 9 students analyse the growth and changes experienced in this industry, as well as the ways it is attempting to be more sustainable. Students also explore China as an in-depth case study of a country which brings together their learning from across Years 7, 8 and 9.
GCSE Geography: Edexcel specification A
Physical Geography
- UK Changing Landscapes: Rivers, Coasts, Geology
- Ecosystems
- Weather hazards
Human Geography
- Changing Cities
- Global Development
- Resource and Water management
UK Challenges and Fieldwork Investigations
- Contemporary UK Challenges e.g. Global Warming, population pressure, greenfield development
- Coastal fieldwork
- Urban fieldwork
A-Level Geography: Edexcel specification
Physical Geography – Exam 1
- Tectonic hazards
- Coastal processes and landscapes
- Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
- Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
Human Geography – Exam 2
- Globalisation
- Regenerating Places
- Superpowers
- Health, Human Rights & Intervention
Synoptic Paper – Exam 3
- Non-examined Assessment – Independent Fieldwork Investigation (20%)
