The foundations for the subject are laid in the junior classes and start with where we are in relation to other countries. The pupils learn countries and capitals and we use their own experiences to help understand the fundamental principles of geography. The syllabus helps them to understand our multinational world by exploring and comparing more economically developed countries to less developed ones. The pupils will learn how physical, human and social geography come together to make sense of the world we live in.
Geography is a subject which is both interactive and cross-curricular, incorporating Mathematics, Science, ICT and literacy skills. It encourages pupils in critical analysis of the world around them and encourages good presentation. These skills are also very useful in fieldwork which we do on site and when we visit the River Tillingbourne and Box Hill in the Lower Sixth.
Discussion is very much encouraged in class as it is a vital learning tool in encouraging pupils to formulate their own conclusions about the world around them.
In the final years we start to prepare the children for their Common Entrance and Scholarship exams. Currently the CE and Scholarship syllabus involves global location knowledge, Ordnance Survey map work skills, collection and recording of fieldwork, rivers and coasts, earthquakes and volcanoes, weather and climate, economic activity and environmental issues.