Geography

Head of department: Hafizur Rahman

Members of Department:

  • Elaine Danaher
  • Lucia Manville
  • Flora Dickinson

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
  • Unequal Development
  • Tectonic Hazards
  • The Energy Issue
  • Our Local Area (project)
  • Biomes & Ecosystems
  • The Climate Crisis
  • Climatic Hazards
  • Disease
  • Resource Conflict

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 out 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: AQA.

The A-Level Geography course is a linear 2 year course designed to challenge perceptions and stimulate student’s investigative and analytical skills. Teaching groups are taught Human and Physical Geography by different teachers so that students can benefit from the very best expertise that the school has to offer. Students will attend day trips as well as residential trips 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.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

The Geography Department is a friendly team of four staff committed to collaborative ways of working, mixed-ability teaching, and to providing a wide range of enrichment opportunities at KS3 to KS5.  These include local fieldwork throughout KS3 with a river study day in year 7 for all pupils, extensive fieldwork across London in KS4 with a residential to the Lake District or other national park and two residential fieldtrips across KS5. The experience of getting to unfamiliar environments is vital for geography students and the school day at Morpeth caters perfectly for this, full morning sessions allowing us to get students as far as the Thames barrier and even the occasional farm visit without having to disturb other subjects.