Geography - KS4

Vision for Learning 

Students at SJB study geography in order to develop a sense of awe and wonder about places and people at all levels, from the personal, local to the global.

Our department strives to inspire students to have a love of the world around them and we will do this through varied activities inside and outside of the classroom. We aim to ensure Geography becomes a lifelong love of our students and encourages their questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future….

Qualification: GCSE

Exam Board: Edexcel B

Coursework:  N/A

Exam: 100%

Exam Structure: 2 x 1hr 30min, 1x 1hr45min exam papers sat in the summer of Year 11

Specification Link to Edexcel Geography BCuriculum Map

Course Overview:

This is an exciting and relevant course that allows students to explore both global challenges and local issues, helping them make sense of the world around them. Through their studies, students develop a sense of awe and curiosity about the planet, while gaining a deeper understanding of their own place within it. This foundation not only inspires a lifelong interest in geography but also equips learners with the knowledge and skills to succeed in their chosen pathways for further study.

Paper 1: Global Geographical Issues

• Topic 1: Hazardous Earth
• Topic 2: Development dynamics
• Topic 3: Challenges of an urbanising world

Paper 2: UK Geographical Issues

• Topic 4: The UK’s evolving physical landscape (Coastal change and conflict and River processes and pressures)
• Topic 5: The UK’s evolving human landscape – including a Case Study of London
• Topic 6: Geographical investigations – including one physical fieldwork investigation and one human fieldwork investigation (see below for more information)

Paper 3: People and Environment Issues – Making Geographical Decisions.

• Section A: People and the biosphere
• Section B: Forests under threat
• Section C: Consuming energy resources
• Section D: Making a geographical decision

Fieldwork: We undertake 2 days fieldwork. One for human geography to Guildford to look at the diversity in Urban areas and the other Barton on Sea to look at how Coastal Management impacts the coast.

Assessment throughout the course

Students undertake Topic Assessments when they have completed each Topic, these are marked and graded using the GCSE 9-1 grading. Students also complete a full GCSE style paper at the end of Year 10 and in their Year 11 mocks.