The geography department has an enthusiastic and committed team of teachers who are all longstanding and dedicated members of the Balcarras team. Mrs Lambert Masters (Head of Department), Mrs Cullis (Assistant Head), Miss Niblett (Head of Selvey), Mrs Bull (D of E coordinator and Head of Careers) and Mr Pearce (Website coordinator).
The department is dedicated to instilling a love of geography and in helping all pupils achieve their maximum potential whatever their stage of education. The department comprises of 4 dedicated teaching rooms all equipped with interactive whiteboards, projectors and Apple TV. Within these there is also a dedicated teaching room equipped with 20 computers for use within the department alongside specialised software packages and GIS and a class set of I pads. A range of resources are used to deliver the content across the key stages and we are proud of our above national average results in all key stages.
Key Stage 3
The KS3 Curriculum is diverse and engaging. The young geographers will study seven topics per year comprising of both physical and human geography. Assessment in geography takes many forms with students being supported in learning how to use self-reflection, peer assessment, progress monitoring and target setting. These methods are used in addition to formal teacher assessment and students are encouraged to celebrate their success and consider targets for improvement. Independent learning is a key priority and all students will be encouraged to develop these key skills through geography. We also try to invite speakers and organisations in to the department; Year 8 have previously had the pleasure of seeing a rainforest workshop where they got friendly with some creepy crawlies! Topics in key stage 3 include Help! We are going under, glaciation, population pressure, violent earth, ecosystems, climatic hazards and geography of Crime amongst many others.
Geography is a subject enjoyed within the Lower School and as a result many Year 9 pupils opt for the GCSE Geography course. Since September 2016 we have been studying the new AQA 'A' GCSE Geography syllabus. This course is wide ranging in content with three exams at the end, physical, human and skills papers. Topics covered are broad and include hazards, changing economies, physical landscapes and resource management amongst others. There is emphasis on current issues and a broad skills base, enabling the pupils to gain a wider insight into the world around them but also enhance their employability with numeracy, literacy and discursive skills.
We currently have 80 students studying A-level geography (AQA) here at Balcarras. The department is attracting large numbers of both internal and external candidates. We start Year 12 with a residential weekend in Dorset in September to study the coastal landforms and vital geographical skills. This also allows pupils to integrate and form good peer relationships to enhance their confidence in class too. The AQA AS level in Year 12 consists of Hazards, Coastal landforms and Changing places, with examination in these alongside a skills paper. If candidates go on the study the full A level in Year 13 they study the topics of Water and Carbon Cycles, Global systems and governance and population and the environment.
Fieldwork and Trips
Fieldwork is a fundamental aspect of geography which we are fully committed to delivering. The pupils have access to fieldwork opportunities at all stages. As a department we are also committed to working with other local schools and have an excellent Gloucestershire network of teachers who meet regularly at Balcarras. We take part in annual inter school quizzes and aim to expose our pupils to as many possible ‘hands on’ experiences of the subject as possible. The department are also keen to invite outside speakers in to talk on relevant topics to pupils such as Year 12 speaker session on climate management and mitigation from a University lecturer.
A variety of day trips are run throughout key stage three such as trips to Cheddar gorge, Cheltenham town centre, Natural History Museum and Cotswold Wildlife Park, along with many smaller outdoor studies in lessons around the school and local area such as a microclimate survey or carbon footprint analysis.
At GCSE pupils spend a day at either a river or a tourism location in preparation for their geographical skills paper. We also run an optional residential trip for pupils in Year 10 which is both curriculum and skills based but also broadens the pupils understanding of the geographical world around us. In 2017 we will go the Lake District. We have also visited Dorset in the past where we combine geographical studies of stunning locations such as Lyme Regis, Charmouth beach for fossil hunting, old harry rocks, Studland sand dunes and Lulworth cove with some fun team building activities such as kayaking or abseiling.
In year 12 we run a residential trip to develop fieldwork skills and better understand environments, this has been to Wales to look at post glacial environments in the past and also Dorset for understanding Coastal Systems. We also run a river data collection to Ashes Hollow brook in Shropshire and Year 12 undertake a study of the local area to compliment the Changing Places topic.
Every two years we run a foreign residential trip and we have visited Iceland, the West Coast of America and Italy in recent years. In 2018 we will be off to Iceland.
Over the past few years many of our students have gone on to study geography or associated subjects at university. This is testament to the enthusiasm of the teachers of the subject at Balcarras and the passion for the subject they instil in the pupils.
If you would like to further your own geography knowledge, have a look at our recommended geographical reads.
Simon was a pupil at Balcarras from 2004 to 2011. He graduated with a BSc in Geography at Plymouth University. "I chose Geography at degree as it was always my favourite subject and the one that I was best at. Throughout my A levels I knew it was what I wanted to do and so I put more energy into Geography over my other subjects". He subsequently went on to do a PGCE and completing his training back here at Balcarras. He now works full time fulfilling his passion as a Geography teacher in Bristol.
Catherine Rice Williams (University of Sussex)
Tell us about yourself?
I attended Balcarras from 2006-2011 and Sixth Form from 2011-2013. I achieved 14 GCSEs and 3 A Levels in Geography (A*), Russian (A) and French (B), as well as an Extended Project which was on a topic related to geography. I am currently a second year undergraduate studying a joint honours degree in Geography and International Development at the University of Sussex.
Why did you decide to study Geography A Level?
Completing a GCSE in Geography confirmed my passion for the subject and I knew that it was something that I wanted to pursue to A Level.
What other subjects did you study and did they complement each other?
I also studied Russian and French which seems like madness at the time however; I very much appreciate having studied this combination as it has allowed me to explore my options of studying a degree at university. I would say that Geography is a subject that compliments any other discipline and when I was studying for my A Levels I feel that the combination of languages and Geography worked well.
What are you doing now and did your Geography help?
I am now studying Geography and International Development at university so obviously my previous studies of Geography at Balcarras played a major role in enabling me to get where I am today. Studying Geography also reinforced my passion for travelling and I have now had the incredible opportunities to visit many countries, and even carry out volunteer work abroad which has been an invaluable experience.
Results for A Level