Curriculum Intent 

In order to develop students’ sense of curiosity about the world they live in and to promote high standards of attainment, we teach a broad range of topics in depth. Links between what is studied at Key Stages 3 and 4 are explicitly clear, so that students build on what they already know when acquiring new knowledge. 

We aim to ensure that every student will have an interest in and a sense of wonder about our planet.  In this complex and dynamically changing world, we will equip students with the skills to be able to articulate their own opinions about global issues that affect them as well as understand the views of others.  Through their study of geography, students will be able to explain where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected.   
  

Year 7 Curriculum 

In Year 7, students begin by studying the geography of the UK, investigating the physical and human landscape, population, weather and economy, whilst getting to grips with some of the geographical skills they will be using over the course of the year. Students consider different key terminology such as climate, population density and distribution, as well as uneven development between the North and South divide. This leads on to investigating urban issues within the UK and in LIDCs and comparing these challenges. Students consider housing, transport and environmental issues and solutions in ACs, particularly in Leicester, and study an example of a sustainable city, Curitiba. Next, students will explore the types of energy used in the UK, and how can these be sustainably produced and used? Finally, students learn about the world’s major biomes and their locations before investigating how two biomes, tropical rainforests and coral reefs, are under threat and how they can be managed sustainably. Have a look at the video below, for more information about the Year7 Geography Curriculum.

Year 7 Geography Curriculum Overview

Year 8 Curriculum 

In Year 8, students learn how physical processes interact to influence and change landscapes and environments. Students also learn how and why humans influence these processes through river and coastal management. They focus on key processes which help to shape the physical geography of our landscape, through looking at rivers and coasts, with a focus on the River Severn as a case study and the Bradshaw Model. Students then go on to study development and the way countries are classified, along with globalisation and aid. Cycle 2 focuses on Kenya as an LIDC, thinking about economic development and tourism and Dubai in terms of development and economic growth. Finally, students look at population and migration, including population structures, the consequences of ageing populations and the effects of migration on the UK. Students consider overpopulation, the one-child policy adopted by China and migration to the United Kingdom and Leicester. Have a look at the video below for more information about the Year 8 Geography Curriculum. 

Year 8 Geography Curriculum Overview

Year 9 Curriculum 

In Year 9, students look at how and why the Earth’s climate has changed over time and the consequences this has globally. Students consider the natural and human causes of climate change, global sea level rise causes and impact and polar regions, as well as focusing on environmental refugees in the Carteret Islands. In cycle 1 students also study the human and physical geography of Russia. Students then go on to study a wide range of hazards, including earthquakes, flooding, drought and tropical storms, which impact on people and the environment both locally and globally. The case studies students look at in Year 9 are El Nino and the drought case study in the Sahel region. Finally, students study tourism where they explore the growth of tourism and the different types of tourism, including global tourism, ecotourism, extreme tourism, space tourism and dark tourism. Students learn about the impact tourism has on the country and others around the world, discussing the significance of tourism. Some of the countries studied in cycle 3 linking to tourism are Brazil, Dubai and Poland. Have a look at the video below for more information on the Year 9 Geography Curriculum. 

Year 9 Geography Curriculum Overview

Year 10 Curriculum 

Students study the OCR A Geography course. Year 10 starts by focusing on Living in the UK. This is made up of the landscapes of the UK, the people and environmental challenges. Students will understand how landscapes in the UK were formed and changed, how diverse the UK is and what the population is like, as well as the role of renewable and non-renewable energy in the UK. This builds upon their knowledge from years 7, 8 and 9 and applies it to new places studied, including the River Tees, Holderness coast, Leicester and Somerset. 

Students will then continue to develop their geographical and fieldwork skills, which can be applied to paper 3. They will study a range of maps, graphs and data, looking at drawing information from them and using it appropriately in geography. They will also participate in two field work opportunities, one physical and one human. These trips are usually to Leicester City and Bradgate Park, where students have to collect their own data and later on analyse it. 

Year 11 Curriculum 

In Year 11, students start by learning about the World Around Us. Within this they will study different ecosystems, people and environmental threats to the planet. Students will gain knowledge about the world that they live in, and develop a better understanding about how people can affect the planet, how countries develop and the threats of global warming. They will apply their knowledge to places such as Andros Barrier Reef, Ethiopia and Australia. 

Extra-curricular information 

The Geography department contributes to the school’s diverse enrichment programme by facilitating students taking part in: 

• Duke of Edinburgh 

• Fieldtrips to Bradgate Park and Leicester City Centre 

• Twycross Zoo 

• Eco Schools  

• Zoolab