Geography

Department Vision
To help all pupils to understand the world around them by presenting geography in an interesting, up-to-date, stimulating and enjoyable way.

Department Aims
• To enable pupils to develop key geographical skills including field work, map work and the recording, presenting and interpreting of data.
• To introduce pupils to a wide range of human and physical geography and to help them develop environmental awareness.
• To provide pupils with the opportunity to develop a good understanding of their local area and a broader knowledge of the wider world.
• To encourage pupils to become independent learners.

Geography at Key Stage 3
Geography is taught over 3 forty minute periods in Year 8, 9 and 10. During this time we focus on a variety of human and physical topics as outlined below;

Year 8 
   - Introducing Geography
- Reading and Understanding Maps
- Understanding local Places
- Traffic (Fieldwork Investigation)
- Rivers

Year 9
  - Understanding our Weather
- Dodging Doomsday
- Economic Activity (Farming)
- Shopping (Fieldwork investigation)

Year 10
 - Population and migration
- The Geography of Crime
- Our Restless Earth (Earthquakes and Volcanoes)
- Our Living world (Ecosystems)

 

Geography at GCSE

Why do GCSE Geography?
GCSE Geography is a very popular choice for students in Dromore High School. There are a lot of reasons why geography is a good choice;
• It helps develop knowledge and understanding of current events e.g. volcanic eruptions, tsunamis and hurricanes.
• It helps us understand the world around us and how we can live in it sustainably.
• It helps pupils develop a range of useful skills such as map reading, data collection, ICT and problem solving.
• It is a useful and desirable qualification for any university course
• It opens up a wide variety of career pathways e.g. architecture, law, leisure and tourism, estate agency, the armed services and many more.

What is the GCSE course like?
The specification we follow is AQA and consists of three units:
Unit 1 – Physical Geography (Exam worth 37.5% completed in Year 11)
• The Restless Earth (Earthquakes and volcanoes)
• The Living World (ecosystems)
• Water on the Land (Rivers)
Unit 2 - Human Geography (Exam worth 37.5% completed in Year 12)
• Population
• Settlement
• Tourism
Unit 3 – Controlled Assessment (Investigation worth 25% completed entirely in class in Year 12

 

Geography at A Level By studying 'A' Level Geography you will learn about geographical concepts and processes, interactions between people and their environment, the challenges of sustainability and the importance of attitudes and values. You will then be able to relate what you have studied to the world around you. The AS course can be taken as a final qualification or as the first half of the 'A' level qualification.