Geography is the world subject. It is up-to-date, relevant, exciting and adventurous. It provides an understanding of many big challenges facing the world and knowledge of complex physical and human interactions. Geography tackles issues that matter and evaluates and attempts to manage them.
At Ashlyns School you have the opportunity to develop your geographical skills through a broad, balanced curriculum. We offer a series of interlinked courses that build on National Curriculum requirements and provide the framework to naturally progress to GCSE and ultimately to AS- and A-level Geography.
Fieldwork is an integral part of geography and enhances skills and investigation techniques. As a school we encourage the development of fieldwork skills and opportunities to explore familiar and unfamiliar contexts. Our fieldtrips involve both local and international studies and have included; fieldwork within the school grounds; Barton on Sea, Bournemouth, Swanage, Barcelona and Iceland. For more details and updates please visit the Geography VLE area.
In addition to fieldwork, we regularly take groups on visits to develop their sense of enquiry of concepts such as; Y9 to the Natural History Museum and Y8 to Kew Gardens as part of Extended Learning Days. As members of the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association we also offer a programme of extra-curricular lectures for A Level students to enhance their geographical knowledge as well as opportunities to attend A Level Hazards Conferences and study days at the RGS.
Key Stage 3
Throughout KS3 you study a range of exciting and engaging topics to strengthen your knowledge and understanding of key themes such as: place, interdependence, environmental interactions, physical and human processes, cultural understanding and geographical enquiry and skills. The course structure is designed to progressively develop understanding of geography’s ‘big concepts’, through a range of stimulating teaching and learning activities that bring geography to life as part of progression to GCSE and A Level studies.
Topics covered include:
- Personal Geographies
- About the UK
- China Today
- Russia Today
- Risky World
Topics covered include:
- Development Dilemmas
- Africa Continent of Contrasts
- Weather and Climate
Topics covered include:
- Geography of Conflict
- Antarctica and Cold Environments
- Interconnected World
- Ecological Footprints and Futures
Assessment involves a variety of activities that develop key geographical skills as well as numeracy and literacy. Assessment is carried out using a range of strategies including summative and formative techniques in the form of projects, independent enquiry, extended writing, unit assessments, peer assessment, self-assessment and assessment for learning.
Home learning may include independent research tasks, Takeaway homework activities, competitions or assessment preparation tasks. For details of the topics and how to ‘take your learning further’ visit the VLE area
Key Stage 4
We currently follow the AQA Geography (2016) GCSE. This is a contemporary, issues-based specification using geographical concepts to explain key issues facing today’s world. It covers a balance of human and physical topics and assesses a range of geographical skills.
The specification requires students to complete two days of contrasting field studies including primary data collection. In Year 10 students carry out fieldwork on coastal conflicts and management in Barton on Sea and in Year 11 students visit Stratford, London to study urban deprivation. Data collected will be examined in Y11 examinations.
- Natural Hazards
- Tectonic Hazards
- Weather Hazards
- The Urban World
- The Development Gap
- UK Physical Landscapes
- Rivers or Glacial landscapes in the UK
- Climate Change
- Coastal landscapes in the UK
- Fieldwork skills
- Coastal Fieldwork write-up
- The Changing economy of the UK
Topics studied include:
- The Changing Economic World
- Urban fieldwork
- Newly Emerging Economies
- Cold Environments
- Tropical Rainforests
- Resources Management
- Preparation for Unit Three: Making Geographical Decisions
This is a linear course with all examined units taken in the summer of Y11
Unit 1 Examination (1hr 30 min), total 88 marks
Unit 2 Examination (1hr 30 min), total 88 marks
Unit 3 Examination (1hr 15 min), total 76 marks
Key Stage 5
Students study Edexcel (2016) A Level specification. The course allows students to engage critically with real world issues and places, apply their own geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to make sense of the world around them and help prepare them to succeed in their chosen career path.
Year 12 : Year 1
Topic 1: Tectonic Hazards Processes and Hazards
Topic 2: Coastal landscapes and Change
Topic 3: Globalisation
Topic 4: Regeneration Places
Year 13 Year 2
Topic 5: The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
Topic 6: The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
Topic 7: Superpowers
Topic 8: Health, Human Rights and Intervention
Examinations assessed at the end of Year 13
- Paper 1: Dynamic Landscapes – (30%) 2 hours 15 mins
- Paper 2: Dynamic Place (30%) – 2 hours 15 mins
- Paper 3: Synoptic Investigation (20%) – 2 hours 15 mins
- Non-Examined Assessment – (Independent Investigation) 3000-4000 words
Fieldwork is an integral part of the A-level course and students must complete 4 days of fieldwork skills. Previous trips have included residential courses in Malham Tarn, Yorkshire and Swanage, Dorset. These trips allow for essential studies in preparation for and the development of practical geographical skills including data collection and analysis, and the application of geographical information systems (GIS). International trips have also included Barcelona and Iceland. More details about trips can be found in our Geography area on the School Portal.