Geography - Ages 11-16

Why does Geography matter?

Geography provokes and answers questions about the natural and human worlds, using different scales of enquiry to view them from different perspectives.  

It develops knowledge of places and environments throughout the world, an understanding of maps, and a range of investigative and problem solving skills both inside and outside the classroom.  As such, it prepares pupils for adult life and employment.  Geography is an important link between the natural and social sciences.  As pupils study Geography, they encounter different societies and cultures.  This helps them realize how nations rely on each other.  It can inspire them to think about their own place in the world, their values, and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment. 

What skills are developed through the study of Geography?

Geography aims to engender enthusiasm for the subject through a wide range of learning activities in and out of the classroom.  Geography offers a mix of theoretical and practical learning and the subject allows our students to develop excellent transferable skills, including ICT, report-writing, completing enquiries, essay-writing, communication and presentation skills, and personal skills such as time management and independent study.  Our examination groups are successful in achieving strong results. 

What opportunities for enrichment exist in Geography?

Geography comes to life outside the classroom and fieldwork is an integral part of the subject, whether it is on or off the School site.  Our fantastic site and grounds provide opportunities for a rich diversity of on-site fieldwork.  This includes live mapping exercises, field sketching and the study of microclimates around the school in Year 7.  In Year 8 students can carry out investigations of weathering around the School site and explore the different ecosystems, from fields to woodland.  Outside of School, fieldwork opportunities are focused around the requirements of our examination groups. Our GCSE students participate in residential fieldwork at the end of Year 10; past locations have included Shropshire, the Peak District and Suffolk.

Geography inspires us to think about our own place in the world, our values, and our rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment.

Lunchtime clubs provide support for students with coursework and preparing for examinations, along with support for students completing Prep.  The Geography and History Departments also combine for the Model United Nations Society, an exciting initiative which culminates in a conference at Kingswood School, Bath, along with a smaller conference in Manchester.  Students from Year 10 upwards have the opportunity to learn about and debate important, often controversial issues such as human rights abuses, disarmament and global security.