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Geography

Head of department: Hafizur Rahman

Members of Department:

  • Flora Dickinson
  • Lucia Manville (Head of Jalal House)
  • Abdul Wahid Choudhury

Geography at Morpeth aims to:

  • Develop pupil’s geographical understanding of places and locations
  • Cultivate a sense of curiosity of the world at local and global scales
  • Nurture critical thinking

This is accomplished through the delivery of a thematic curriculum where knowledge, understanding and skills are developed through the study of geographical issues. Real-life examples are used to secure the concepts and content of the issues studied. The curriculum has been coherently designed to allow pupils to acquire knowledge that is developed over time so that pupils have a deep understanding of the interaction and interconnection between human and physical processes, and the formation and use of landscapes and environments

Key Stage 3 Curriculum

Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Years 7-8)

Key Stage 3 is taught over 2 years and is designed to give all pupils grounding in the subject that will enable them to progress towards success at GCSE or beyond.
The main topics taught are:

  • Geographical Skills, Settlement and the UK
  • Uneven Development
  • Tectonic Hazards
  • Physical Landscapes
  • Extreme Environments & Tourism
  • Biomes & Ecosystems
  • Migration
  • Water
  • Disease

Fieldtrip – All year 7 pupils go to Eynsford to study the River Darent in support of their classwork.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Key Stage 4 Curriculum (Years 9-11)

Exam Board: WJEC Eduqas Specification A

GCSE Geography is taught in 1 year. The overarching aims are that our students develop the ability to think 'like a geographer'. That is to say, students will develop the skills necessary to conduct framed enquiries in the classroom and in the field (all students attend a residential fieldtrip) in order to develop their understanding of specialised geographical concepts and current geographical issues. Students will develop the ability to think: 

  • Creatively, for example, by posing questions that relate to geographical processes and concepts that include questioning about spatial pattern and geographical change 
  • Scientifically by collecting and recording appropriate evidence from a range of sources, including fieldwork, before critically assessing the validity of this evidence and synthesising their findings to reach evidenced conclusions that relate to the initial aim of their enquiry
  • Independently by applying geographical knowledge, understanding, skills and approaches appropriately and creatively to real world contexts. In so doing they should appreciate that geography can be ‘messy’ i.e. that real geography does not always match typical or predicted outcomes.

Key Stage 5 Curriculum

Key Stage 5 Curriculum (Years 12-13)

Exam Board: OCR

The A-Level Geography course is a linear 2 year course designed to encourage learners to develop a range of essential skills for Higher Education and the world of work, through content which is relevant to any citizen of the planet in the 21st century. Through exciting topics, learners will understand the nature of physical and human geography whilst unpicking the debates surrounding contemporary challenges facing the world today. Students will attend a residential trip to the coast, urban, rural and river settings to bring the curriculum to life. Students will also conduct their own independent enquiry on an issue of their choice.