Clarion Web Header 2 tiles
Geography Curriculum Overview

 

At Clarion the intention of our Geography curriculum is to rouse the excitement, creativity and critical thinking about the world that will allow our young people to make their own way in it. Geography is a way for students to develop a greater understanding of the world and their place within it. Through study of carefully selected topics students are able to study a range of places and topics to satiate their love of place and space. At Clarion we strive to teach key processes, concepts and develop understanding of key issues as well as to inspire our students to feel they have the ability to change the world around them. 

Geography at Clarion is ambitious is both topic choice and challenge. We ensure that we teach to the top in all lessons with scaffolding in place to support learners to meet these standards. 

Students complete regular assessments both summative and formative throughout the curriculum and onto KS5. Understanding of previous knowledge and concepts is reviewed during retrieval practice every lesson. Regular assessment is provided at the end of each topic, with timely feedback for both teacher and student to see the gaps in learning. Work is marked either ‘deep marked’ by the subject teacher or students are given Whole class feedback based on classwork. Misconceptions can be tackled as part of the marking process, and within lessons through questioning.

Students are encouraged to attend the eco-committee which is a club created with the main aim of stewardship in mind. This year students are aiming to achieve green flag status for Clarion. We are looking to reignite a love of fieldwork with KS4 and KS5 students this year with year 11 and year 12 fieldwork at FSC. 

Students choose between Geography and History at the end of year 8. They will then have an additional opportunity to take Geography in another column. This allows students to take two or three humanities based subjects onto GCSE level.

 

 

Impact

  • ⁤Geography at Whitefield School and geography education in general is crucial in forming students' understanding of the world. ⁤⁤Students learn about the intricate interactions that exist between human society and the environment through investigating a variety of cultures, ecosystems, and geopolitical processes. ⁤⁤
  • Students are inspired to think critically about global issues such as resource distribution, migration, and climate change as a result of this awareness, which broadens their perspective, in turn fostering empathy.
  • ⁤⁤Geography education gives students the information and skills they need to become knowledgeable global citizens who can promote intercultural understanding and sustainable solutions for imminent environmental issues at a local, national and even at a global scale. ⁤

Implementation

  • Geography provides pupils with the opportunity to explore a variety of physical, environmental and human topics across a 3 year KS3 and a 2 year GCSE. Geography has the power to develop a multitude of disciplinary skills. During KS3 we endeavour to develop numeracy, graphical and literacy skills so that students can attain top marks at GCSE.
  • Throughout the course students are taught skills which are then developed through the key stages. Graphicacy-line, isoline, ra graphs, climate graphs, literacy promotion of subject specific vocabulary as well as explicitly teaching tier two language every lesson. Students complete extended writing in most lessons in order to develop the understanding of key command words; to what extent, evaluate, describe, explain, discuss as well as understanding how to answer level marked questions e.g. L1, L2 and L3 for a 9 mark question.

Academic Journey - KS3

Year 7

  
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
What is a Geographer? How do we use our planet as a natural resource?
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
What is an economy, from local to global? What is weather and climate?
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Why do we need to understand how the Earth works? What are the challenges and opportunities for countries in Africa?

Year 8

  
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Why are rivers important? What is development?
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
How do we use our planet as a natural resource? Why do people move and what impact does this have?
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
What happens when land meets sea? Why is the Middle East an important world region?

Year 9

  
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Why do we need to understand why earthquakes and volcanoes occur? Is the geography of Russia a hindrance or a benefit?
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
How do people and nature shape life in hot deserts? Diverse and dynamic: how is Asia transforming?
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
What is the future for our planet? Are natural disasters 'natural'?

 

Academic Journey - KS4

Year 10

  
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Natural Hazards  
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
The Living World The UK's Physical Landscape
Half Term 5 Half Term 6
Urban Challenges - Rio Fieldwork

Year 11

  
Half Term 1 Half Term 2
Urban Challenges - London Development & Nigeria
Half Term 3 Half Term 4
The UK Economy Resources - Energy
Half Term 5  
Pre-release & Revision  

 

Academic Journey - Sixth Form

Year 12

  
Half Term 1 - 2 Half Term 3 - 4
Globalisation & Tectonics Regeneration & Coasts
Half Term 5 - 6  
Fieldwork & NEA  

Year 13

  
Half Term 1 - 2 Half Term 3 - 4
Superpowers & Water Cycle Migration, Identity and Sovereignty & Carbon Cycle
Half Term 5  
Paper 3  

 

Extra Curricular Activities

The Eco-committee is open for KS3, KS4 and KS5 students

Trips

KS3 - Fieldwork trip to Brent Cross Regeneration site and Hyde Park/Kew Gardens

KS4 - Fieldwork trips to Wembley and Bluebell Wood

Useful Links

KS3

 

KS4

Extended Reading List

KS3

Not As We Know It’ by Tom Avery


‘Horrible Geography Series’ by Anita Ganeri


‘Around the World in Eighty Days’ by Jules Verne & Peter Holeinone


‘Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia’ by Christina Thompson


‘Touching the Void’ by Joe Simpson


‘Great Adventures’ by Alastair Humphreys


‘The Boy Who Biked the World Series’ by Alastair Humphreys

 

KS4

‘The Almighty Dollar: Follow the Amazing Journey of a Single Dollar to See How the Global Economy Really Works’ by Dharshini David

This book provides insights into globalisation and interdependence, crucial for understanding the global economy and trade networks.

 

‘Silent Spring’ by Rachel Carson

A seminal work on environmental science and conservation, ideal for understanding ecosystems, environmental degradation, and management strategies.

 

‘Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed’ by Jared Diamond

An exploration of how environmental mismanagement leads to societal collapse, useful for understanding resource management and sustainability.

 

‘Earthquakes and Tsunamis’ by David Rothery

A detailed look at tectonic processes, hazards, and their management, supporting the ‘Living with the Physical Environment’ section.

 

‘Underland: A Deep Time Journey’ by Robert Macfarlane

A beautifully written exploration of the Earth’s underground worlds, from caves to mines, tying in with physical geography and human impact.

 

‘Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet’ by Mark Lynas

A powerful look at the consequences of climate change, complementing the ‘Challenge of Natural Hazards’ topic.

 

‘Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Global Politics’ by Tim Marshall

An essential read for understanding how geography influences geopolitics, linking directly to topics like resource management and global development.

 

‘Why Nations Go to War’ by John G. Stoessinger

This book examines global conflict through geographical and resource-based lenses, linking to topics like energy challenges and geopolitical tensions.

 

‘Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made’ by Gaia Vince

This book explores human impacts on the planet and aligns with themes like climate change, sustainability, and urbanisation.