Geography
The Geography staff relish passing on their enthusiasm, knowledge and skills through dynamic teaching methods, stimulating our students’ interest and curiosity about the world so that they understand the important topics affecting all our lives.
With a rising tide of conflicting views, misleading information and ‘fake news’ propagated on issues like global warming, population control and pollution, we strive to make our students well-informed world citizens, able to think critically and analyse the plethora of information and data independently. We use many enrichment resources, such as geographical update publications and contemporary news stories linked to relevant topics.
In Year 7 we focus upon a variety of themes within the UK, exploring the pattern of people, activity, climate and landscape. In Year 8, study is extended to include European themes, and includes topics on river environments, population and migration and globalisation. By Year 9 we look at the global dimension via discussion of tourism, natural hazards, ecosystems and climate change. In each year, activities will help to develop a variety of student skills and extend their geographical terminology. We help our students to make sense of a complex world by using a variety of activities and experiences during lessons, visits and fieldwork.
Our aim is to stimulate our students’ curiosity and foster a sense of place and wonder, allowing students to fully appreciate the world around them. We explore global challenges like population growth, environmental resources, and the impact of developing economies, as well as the complexities of physical systems such as flooding, earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate change.
We aim to develop students’ awareness of the interactions between people and environments, highlighting the opportunities, challenges, and constraints faced by individuals in different locations, while preparing them as active citizens in the rapidly evolving 21st century.
Students will also acquire and apply a range of geographical skills, including fieldwork, independent research, ICT, and map work, to conduct meaningful geographical inquiries.
A Level Geography combines knowledge and analysis of current issues, develops practical skills, problem-solving techniques, and allows study at all scales from local to global in different parts of the world and different types of environments. Geography complements all other areas of study because of the great breadth of knowledge, understanding and skills it gives. The following areas will be covered: Physical Systems, Human Interactions and Geographical debates.
Students will build upon their GCSE knowledge and focus on understanding the interrelationships between people and their environments, exploring the questions, issues, and problems that arise from these relationships. The curriculum includes a balanced study of physical, human, and other geographical topics, with the opportunity for specialisation in a particular area of interest through the student’s own investigation report. There are also four field days in Year 12, aligned with the study of selected topics, and there is an immensely popular option of participating in a biannual expedition to Iceland.
Meet the Head of Department
Mrs Cowan completed an undergraduate degree in Geography and a postgraduate Master of Research degree in Human Geography at the University of Glasgow. As a postgraduate, she was involved in teaching undergraduate students, which inspired her to study for a PGCE at the University of Bristol. She has now taught in independent girls’ schools for almost twenty years. While teaching full time, she has studied through the Open University and successfully completed a Master of Leadership and Management in Education degree as well as undergraduate modules in Geology. She has researched and written a number of articles in Human, Physical, and Environmental Geography, which have been published in the UK and Singapore. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, especially to volcanic and coastal landscapes.
Future Careers
The range of skills involved in A Level Geography makes you adaptable and opens a range of career possibilities in different employment sectors. A Level geographers have gone on to study and undertake careers in medicine, law, engineering, dentistry and veterinary sciences as well as in sectors such as financial services, environmental management, business analysis and retail management.
Beyond the classroom
Sixth Form students help to run a ‘Geography Club’ for younger pupils. There are also opportunities for students to take part in geography ‘WorldWise’ quizzes at various points throughout the year.
