Geography

Curriculum Vision

As the Geographical Association makes clear, the power of geography is to both ‘satisfy and nourish’ our curiosity about the world experienced by every human being. Our responsibility as subject specialists is to use this power to inform and inspire young people, helping them thrive as global citizens, respectful individuals, and informed thinkers.

We believe that education should develop well-rounded individuals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to navigate and contribute to an ever-changing world. Education should empower students to think critically, act responsibly, and engage with the global community.

Geography is about exploring and understanding both the natural and human world. It covers a broad range of themes and topics, focusing on how our actions interact with and change the planet. Our subject helps students develop their sense of place and understand topical and current issues. Geography provides tools to analyse and interpret complex interactions between people and environments, fostering global citizenship and environmental responsibility.

We deliver informed, enquiry-led lessons that help students see the reality of global issues by examining their causes and consequences. By looking at the present to understand the future, we encourage students to wonder, synthesize information, form connections, and address misconceptions.

Our intent is to teach diversity explicitly, challenging misconceptions related to age, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexuality. We implement this through an inclusive curriculum, helping students challenge stereotypes and champion diversity in all units of study on current and global issues.

We inspire determination in our students and motivate them to make the world a better place. Our spiral curriculum spans KS3, KS4, and KS5, allowing students to revisit topics in ways that deepen their skills and understanding. This approach helps them make greater sense of the world. Through rigorous, challenging, and intriguing enquiry questions, we provide students with the means to think about the world in new ways—'thinking like a geographer'. We equip students with the knowledge they need to understand contemporary challenges and to live as knowledgeable citizens, aware of their local and global communities. We encourage students to question and debate their viewpoints, becoming active participants and investigators rather than passive recipients of knowledge.

Our curriculum includes exploring geography through literature, using recent and diverse works as starting points for KS3 Schemes of Learning. We expose students to geographical enquiry, enabling them to deepen their conceptual understanding through reasoning, interpreting data, arguing their points, and undertaking fieldwork.

 
A video introduction to our Geography course in LPGS6 (our co-educational Sixth Form)

 

 

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum is based on the use of enquiry questions.

These questions follow the national curriculum, but also provide students with the opportunity to study beyond what is prescribed. We have aimed to pair topics together that allow students to apply prior knowledge to a new example or location. We have also reflected on the sequence of learning in humanities at LPGS and planned to deliver schemes of learning that encourage cross-curricular leaning.

We are currently in the process of updating the curriculum, however, below is what each year group will study this year.

 

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Year 7

What is Geography and why is it important to study?

How do rivers shape landscapes?

What is weather and climate?

What are biomes, and what makes rainforests and tundra unique?

Can we know enough about earthquakes and volcanoes to live safely?

How do Africa’s geographical features, climate and history shape it?

Year 8

What happens where the land meets the sea?

How are populations changing?

How has a global economy changed the way we work and produce?

Is the earth running out of natural resources? 

How do tropical storms create winners and losers?

How is Asia being rapidly transformed?

Year 9

What is development?

What is the future for the planet? (Climate Change)

Who are the world’s future superpowers?

What story do glaciers tell about our planet’s past and future?

Why is the Middle East an important region?

 

Course Description:

Geography is about exploring and understanding both the natural and human world we live in. It covers a broad range of themes and topics, always looking at how our actions interact with and thus change and shape the planet we call home.

In our changing world nothing changes more than Geography

Pearl S. Buck


At GCSE, we study Edexcel B GCSE Geography.

All students studying the course must have the opportunity to engage with fieldwork. To account for this, we have two UK based day trip experiences at LPGS, these include:

  • Coastal study - Undertaken in Spring term of Year 10

  • Urban study - Undertaken in Summer term of Year 10

Topics of Study:

This course consists of three externally examined papers to be assessed in May/June of Year 11.

The makeup of the exam papers is a mixture of short and extended written answers. The papers also include numerical calculation and data interpretation questions.

In Unit 3, students have to justify decisions around global future issues through data interpretations and extended writing.

Assessment:

Component 1 (37.5%, 94 marks): Written Examination of 1hr 30mins

  • Topic 1 – Hazardous Earth (30 marks): Students develop an understanding of the global circulation of the atmosphere and changing climate. Plus two depth studies of an extreme weather hazard (tropical cyclones) and tectonic hazards at contrasting locations.

  • Topic 2 – Development dynamics (30 marks + 4 marks SPAG): Students develop an understanding of the scale of global inequality. Plus a depth study of how one emerging country (India) is developing and the consequences for people, environment and the country’s relationship with the wider world

  • Topic 3 – Challenges of an urbanising world (30 marks): Students develop an overview of the causes and challenges of rapid urbanisation across the world. Plus one depth study of a megacity (Rio de Janeiro) in a developing or emerging country.

 Component 2 (37.5%, 94 marks): Written Examination of 1hr 30mins

  • Topic 4 – The UK’s evolving physical landscape (27 marks): Students develop an overview of the varied physical landscapes in the UK resulting from geology, geomorphic processes and human activity over time. Plus two depth studies of distinctive landscapes – Coastal change and conflict and River processes and pressures

  • Topic 5 – The UK’s evolving human landscape (27 marks + 4 marks SPAG): Students develop an overview of the changing and varied human landscape of the UK, including the socio-economic and political processes that influence it. Plus a case study of a major UK city (London) - Dynamic UK cities.

  • Topic 6 – Geographical investigations (36 marks): Students are assessed on two investigations, including fieldwork and research, carried out in contrasting environments, one about 'Coastal change and conflict' and one about 'Dynamic urban areas'

 Component 3 (25%, 64 marks): Written examination of 1hr 30mins

  • Topic 7 – People and the biosphere (8 marks): Students will develop an overview of the global distribution and characteristics of large-scale ecosystems, why the biosphere is important to human wellbeing and how humans use and modify it in order to obtain resources

  • Topic 8 – Forests under threat (8 marks): Students will cover a detailed study of tropical rainforests and the taiga, looking at processes and interactions and issues related to their biodiversity and to their sustainable use and management 

  • Topic 9 – Consuming energy resources (32 marks): Students will cover a study of renewable and non-renewable energy, its supply and demand, access and energy security issues, its sustainable use and management

  • Making a Geographical Decision (16 marks)

Key Skills Development:

The GCSE programme of study focuses on data response skills, research for extended writing and the development of ICT and communication skills through fieldwork, group work and presentation and use of the school ICT facilities.

Educational Progression and Career Opportunities:

Geography is a rigorous and wide-ranging academic discipline drawing on many aspects of the sciences, economics, mathematics, and sociology. Data collection/response and interpretation is an integral part of our work, and the student learns how to hypothesise on, and to evaluate key management issues. The subject lends itself to any career involving decision-making, for instance engineering, the civil service, and tourism. It is also an excellent course for preparation for Higher Education or a direct move into employment because of its contemporary and holistic nature and its practical emphasis on decision-making and research.

Students on this course who achieve a GCSE level 5 or higher are eligible and encouraged to study further on to A Level Geography at LPGS6.

Course Description:

Geography is the study of the natural and human world, exploring the dynamic interactions that shape our planet. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of diverse geographical themes, equipping students to analyse and respond to real-world issues. Topics include: tectonic processes and hazards, coastal landscapes and change, the water cycle and issues of global water insecurity, the carbon cycle and issues of global energy security, globalisation, regenerating places, superpowers, health, and human rights, and intervention.

Fieldwork is integral to the course, offering hands-on experiences through day trips and residentials. Recent residentials have included destinations such as Dorset and Somerset. In Year 13, students undertake independent coursework tailored to their fieldwork experiences, allowing them to deepen their knowledge in specific areas of interest.

Skills Required:

Throughout the course, students will develop a wide range of key skills, including: data analysis and interpretation, research and extended writing, communication skills, teamwork, geographical fieldwork skills and ICT proficiency. These skills prepare students for higher education and professional environments, emphasising critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptability.

Method of Assessment:

Paper 1: Written examination (2h and 15min) - 30% of total marks.

Paper 2: Written examination (2h and 15min) - 30% of total marks.

Paper 3: Synoptic written examination (2h and 15min) - 20% of total marks.

Coursework: Independent investigation (3,000 to 4,000-word essay based on their own fieldwork experience) - 20% of total marks.

Progression:

A-Level Geography is widely regarded as an academically rigorous and versatile subject, providing students with a strong foundation for further education and a wide array of career paths. Geography combines elements of the sciences, mathematics, sociology, politics, and economics, making it an ideal subject for students pursuing degrees in geography, environmental science, urban planning, international relations, geology, or economics.