Curriculum
We are a small team of young and enthusiastic teachers dedicated to inspiring our students to investigate our world in more depth. Understanding the processes that formed our planet as we know it today and how we can interact with it to change the world for future generations is a key principle of our subject. During their time with us, students will develop skills of Geographical enquiry through engaging and thought-provoking lessons. Geography is a discipline that has an ever-growing importance that affects every one of us. We all live our lives geographically. Planet Earth is our home. It is awesome, diverse, inspiring and ever-changing. This subject prepares each one of us for the role of a global citizen in the 21st century. We aim for students to achieve their full potential, and to encourage them to pursue careers with an open mind using these gained skills.
Aspects of Geography are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 7 L4L Themes:
- Citizen Me
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth
- Journeys
- Growing
- Water
Aspects of Geography are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 8 L4L Themes:
- Grand Designs
- India
- Coasts
- Coming and Going
Aspects of Geography are covered within the L4L curriculum.
Year 9 L4L Themes:
- Made In China
- America
- Whose Earth Is It Anyway?
Practice a range of skills that will be used and sought after by future employers. This includes cartographic skills, graph analysis and problem-solving skills, gained from the KS3 curriculum.
All content is assessed by terminal examinations.
What the course includes:
Paper 1: Living with the PHYSICAL environment:
ALL to be completed. 1 hour 30 min exam – 35% of the GCSE award
- Challenge of Natural Hazards (tectonics, weather and climate change)
- The Living World (ecosystems; rainforests and deserts)
- Physical Landscapes of the UK (rivers and coasts)
Paper 2: Challenges of the HUMAN environment:
ALL to be completed. 1 hour 30 min exam – 35% of the GCSE award
- Urban Issues and Challenges: comparing rich and poor countries.
- Changing Economic World: the global development gap linked with aid.
- Resource management: with a focus on energy and how to improve sustainability.
Paper 3: Application of skills and student enquiry:
ALL to be completed. 1 hour 15 min exam – 30% of the GCSE award
- Section A: Pre-released booklets to study and revise. Unseen questions based on material in the booklet. Evaluations of an investigation related to any topic from Papers 1 and 2.
- Section B: write up an investigation of two contrasting places interacting with the physical environment. For example, impacts of humans on rural and urban areas.
How will we assess progress?
- Assessment in lessons includes questioning, mini-tests and written work.
- Recap and Review lessons.
- Regular end of topic tests.
- Homework will be based on what we have learned and will require application of skills and investigative research to aid understanding in the next lesson.
What homework can be expected?
At least one piece of homework will be set for Geography each week – this may consist of one or more of the following:
- Regular revision activities
- GCSE Pod
- Activities involving Kerboodle (free online textbook)
- Practice exam questions
- Research tasks
- Our own Thorns Geography YouTube Channel
Mr J Willetts
Completed a BSc in Geography at Aberystwyth University, followed by a PGCE in Geography, also at Aberystwyth University. Has taught at Thorns since 2016 and has led the Geography department since September 2019.
