Intent (based on the National Curriculum)
Across RET schools the geography curriculum is both academic and ambitious. At key stage 3 it:
- inspires in students a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that facilitates their journey in becoming independent and inquisitive learners of geography.
- equips students with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
- enables students to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.
- knowledge, understanding and skills provides the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.
- develops contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places.
- helps students to understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world.
- develops skills so students can
- collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes and enable them to connect their experiences outside of the classroom.
- interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
- communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.
- enables students to be challenged and inspired by contemporary and personal geographies so they can engage with, make synoptic links between and evaluate global themes and issues.
- explores core values of community from local to global scales, encouraging students to take on the role of active citizens.
Implementation
At key stage 3 students will be taught to:
- extend their locational knowledge and deepen their spatial awareness of the world’s countries.
- understand geographical similarities, differences and links between places.
- understand the key processes in physical and human geography and the links between them.
- understand how human and physical processes interact to influence, and change landscapes, environments and the climate.
- learn how human activity relies on effective functioning of natural systems.
- develop their geographical skills and fieldwork including building their knowledge of globes, maps, atlases and information systems.
At key stages 4 and 5 schools follow the AQA specifications.
Key Themes/Concepts
- Hazards
- Climate change
- Ecosystems
- Landscapes
- Development
- Sustainability
- Resources
- Demography
Links to KS2
The key stage 3 curriculum builds coherently on students’ KS2 experience, including in terms of
- locational and place knowledge.
- human and physical geography.
- geographical skills and experience.
Relationship to the wider (KS3) curriculum
- History: industrial revolution and medieval realms.
- Mathematics: coordinate, graphs, 3D shapes and ratio.
- Science: rock formations and ecosystems.
- English language: Spelling, grammar, punctuation, written analysis, written investigation
Links to KS4:
The key stage 3 curriculum is coherent with the GCSE specification which focuses on
- Living with the physical environment
- Challenges in the human environment
- Geographical applications
- Geographical skills
Extra-Curricular Ventures:
In addition to fieldwork which is undertaken at KS3 to various extents across the schools.
Examples of trips include:
- BFS Devon residential, River Holford
- BKS Devon residential, Swanage
- STA Epping Forest, Olympic Park
- KSH River Ouse, Brighton
- THS Box Hill, Olympic Park
