Geography

The study of Geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents...It's about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.

Barack Obama, Former President of the USA

It is very important to us that current events and contemporary issues form a strong element of the units taught at all levels.

Geography is taught to all pupils up to the end of Year 8. Topics aim to give pupils a broad knowledge and understanding of the world around them at local, national and international scales. In the Lower School, we provide girls with a wide-ranging account of geographical processes and issues with a particular focus on:

Year 7

• Map Skills
• My Local Area
• The UK
• Weather and Climate Change
• Globalisation

Year 8

• Plate Tectonics and Hazards
• The Geography of Conflict
• The Physical and Human Geography of Brazil
• Coastal Landscapes and Change

Year 9

• Changing Tourism with links to Wild Shots Outreach
• Factfulness
• Superpowers
• Amazing Places under Threat
• The Geography of Time

Topics are well supported by field trip experiences to Bristol Harbourside, Cheddar Gorge and the coastal environment.

GCSE

GCSE pupils follow the OCR B GCSE Syllabus, Geography for Enquiring Minds. We believe this specification allows our teachers to bring the subject to life and inspire our pupils to achieve more. We aim to encourage pupils to become responsible for their own learning, confident in discussing ideas, to be innovative and engaged.

Exams

• Paper 1, Physical Geography 35% (1 hour 15 minutes)
• Paper 2, Human Geography 35% (1 hour 15 minutes)
• Paper 3, The examination draws synoptically on knowledge and understanding of content drawn from different parts of the course 30% (1 hour 30 minutes)

 Trips

Topics are well supported by a residential field trip experience to Slapton in Devon.

A Level

A Level Geography, and the world we study, is ever-changing. The Edexcel A Level qualification taught focuses on fundamental processes, reflecting the world around us, and fosters an understanding of what could impact its future. Teaching time is subdivided into four periods of Physical Geography and four periods of Human Geography and is taught by different members of the Department according to their specialised knowledge and experience.

The Edexcel A Level Geography specification offer an issues-based approach to studying geography, enabling students to explore and evaluate contemporary geographical questions and issues such as the consequences of globalisation, responses to hazards, water insecurity and climate change.

Studying Geography at Badminton School is a distinctive and memorable experience, as pupils from around the world contribute their knowledge, first-hand.

The specification content gives students the opportunity to develop an in-depth understanding of physical and human geography, the complexity of people and environment questions and issues, and to become critical, reflective, and independent learners.

Exams

• Paper 1, Physical Geography 30% (2 hours 15 minutes)
• Paper 2, Human Geography 30% (2 hours 15 minutes)
• Paper 3, The examination draws synoptically on knowledge and understanding of content drawn from different parts of the course 20% (2 hours 15 minutes)

Trips and Non-Examination Assessment

An Independent Investigation (20%) starts in the Summer Term of Lower Sixth, incorporating fieldwork data and may relate to any aspect of geography contained within the specification. To this end a residential fieldtrip to Slapton in Devon, forms an exciting part of the course.

Other day trips are planned to develop fieldwork techniques and to reinforce content taught in class. Previous trips have included investigating coastal processes and change at Lulworth Cove in Dorset and the other examining the success of the regeneration at Wapping Wharf, Bristol.

Follow the Geography Department on Twitter @BadmintonGeog