Geography

Ethos & Values

We aim:

• To enhance children's quality of learning through the effective delivery of the Geography syllabus.
• To raise attainment by creating a target-orientated culture based on the enhancement of self-esteem.
• To have consistently high expectations and match these with high quality resources and learning strategies.
• To provide a range of educational experiences appropriate to the age, ability and needs of our students.
• To manage resources to ensure maximum benefit.

Knowledge & Skills

Knowledge and understanding of human behaviour, its consequences for other humans and the world they inhabit are important to all students in understanding the world in which we live.

Geography allows you to develop key world information and to develop a variety of skills. A successful Geographer will be able to:

• Understand what motivates people, what they think and feel.
• Gather and read different kinds of information.
• Read maps, graphs and other diagrams.
• Communicate clearly and learn to express yourself verbally and on paper.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, displaying a good standard of written English.
• Present arguments and consider viewpoints.
• Work safely in different locations whilst undertaking fieldwork.
• Use specialised fieldwork equipment to gather information about the locations your visit.
• Develop the use of subject specialist equipment and ICT.

Resources & Facilities

At Somercotes Academy we have a dedicated and professional Geography teacher, who is passionate about teaching the subject.

We offer dedicated, well equipped and comfortable classrooms, with interactive facilities; we also offer a wide range of quality resources and subject specific software.

Courses & Qualifications

Key Stage 3

All students study Geography at Key Stage 3 in line with the National Curriculum. At Key Stage 3 students investigate areas such as Where is Britain?, Settlement Changes, Crime, Coasts, Earthquakes and Volcanoes plus Brazil and its rainforest. All students have two periods a week of Geography in years 7 and 8.

Key Stage 4

Year 9 students: Students in Year 9 will be following the new GCSE syllabus from the AQA examination board, which will be graded from 1-9. Students will study a variety of topics including: rivers and coasts, extreme weather, the changing economic world, the living world, urban issues and challenges, climate change and earthquakes and volcanoes.

Students studying this GCSE will also undertake fieldwork, practicing different methods of data collection for both Human and Physical Geography; these skills along with all additional content will be tested in examination papers at the end of Year 11.

Learning Outside The Classroom

The Humanities department understands the contributions that outside learning can make to students therefore a Humanities Club has recently begun at Somercotes Academy. The Humanities Department also provides a range of revision and support classes when required for Key Stage 4 students in order to help students achieve success in their exams.

Students of GCSE Geography also carry out two fieldtrips to the city of Hull and the Holderness Coast.

Where Does This Take Me In The Future?

• The study of Geography enables students to develop an understanding of societies and cultures around the world as well as an appreciation of modern societies and challenges.
• All topics covered within Geography provide a good progression route to more advanced qualifications, specifically A Levels in Geography, Geology, Biology, Chemistry and Sociology.