The Geography Department
The Geography Department at Presdales School aims to instil awe and wonder in students about the beauty and power of our planet, throughout the key stages. This goes hand in hand with engendering a sense of stewardship and embedding a deep understanding of the necessity to preserve biodiversity through conservation.
A balanced view is encouraged at all times and students are required to examine how humans’ needs can sometimes cause conflict and can degrade the environment if careful management of resources is not in place. Sustainable development is a core value and students are encouraged to participate in sustainable initiatives at all scales, local through to global. Learning outside of the classroom is viewed as essential and there are many opportunities for the pursuit of geographical enquiry.
Geography students at Presdales School will accumulate an impressive array of skills, specifically geographic and generic to equip them for higher levels of study. The Presdales geographer has a broad mind, can comment on a range of human interactions with the planet, views the world as incredible and seeks to preserve all its treasures for future generations to enjoy.
Our Aims
Provide all students with a worthwhile educational experience through well-designed schemes of work and fieldwork wherever possible.
- Stimulate curiosity, interest and enjoyment of the Geography and world around us.
- Enable students to acquire understanding and knowledge of the concepts, theories and ideas involved in both physical and human geography.
- Encourage students to reflect on the impacts of their own actions and those of others, at a local and global scale.
- Encourage students to develop empathy and understanding of different views and perspectives associated with real life issues.
- Use current case studies wherever possible to promote Geography as a real life, relevant subject.
- Encourage students to take responsibility for their own learning and encourage independent study.
- Ensure that we maintain high levels of achievement at all Key Stages.
Geography is taught by a team of specialist teachers which consists of Mrs Hyslop, Mrs Fry, Miss Stitson and Mrs McPherson.
The KS3 curriculum aims to introduce students to the different types of geography – environmental, human and physical through a variety of units of study. Additionally, we teach a range of transferable skills that students need in order to succeed in geography and can also be applied across the curriculum. This includes fieldwork wherever possible.
Year 7 Curriculum
Autumn Term
• What is Geography?
• Japan – Land of Contrasts
Spring Term
• Antarctica
• Weather and Climate
Summer Term
• Map Skills
• Coasts
Year 8 Curriculum
Autumn Term
• Ecosystems
• The Amazon Rainforest
Spring Term
• The Global Fashion Industry
• Climate Change
Summer Term
• Coral Reefs
• Sustainability
Year 9 Curriculum
Autumn Term
• Plate tectonics – Haiti 2010 v New Zealand 2011
• Tourism
Spring Term
• Development Studies
• MINT Countries
Summer Term
• The Living World – ecosystems with a focus on the deciduous forest ecosystem (first unit of the AQA GCSE course).
Fieldwork and Trips
Year 7
• An investigation into microclimates is carried out in the school grounds.
Year 8
• TBC
