Geography at Culcheth Hall School

Geography is a dynamic subject which is very relevant to all pupils to help them understand and be interested in the physical and human world around them.

It is becoming increasing important for people to be aware of problems caused by man and to search for solutions to them.

Geography is an important subject in the school curriculum at Key Stage 3 and is a popular option at GCSE where the results have been excellent.  The department uses a variety of approaches when teaching the subject to inspire the pupils’ interest and to make the subject accessible to all.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum includes a study of map work, our world, settlement, weather, rivers and flooding in Year 7.

Year 8 concentrates on weathering and erosion, population issues, levels of development, world problems and economic activities.

Year 9 includes major ecosystems, tectonic activity, the European Union, tourism and Japan.

At Key Stage 4 the new AQA specification A will be studied from September 2009 by the Year 10 pupils.  There are seven physical geography topics of which we study three.  These include Water on the Land, The Living World and The Restless Earth.  These will be examined at the end of Year 10.

There are six human geography topics of which we study three.  These include Population Change, The Development Gap and Tourism.  These will be examined at the end of Year 11.

Both papers have equal weighing of 37.5%.  The remaining 25% is examined through a controlled assessment based on collecting primary data in the field

At all stages of the curriculum field work is important to the study of Geography.  Year 7 carry out a traffic survey, Year 8 take part in a farm visit and Year 9 study tourism in the Peak District.   In Year 10 and Year 11 river field work will be carried out for the controlled assessment part of the examination.