Geography

Who’s who in the Department?

We work hard to encourage all our students to strive towards high levels of achievement. We aim to equip them with the knowledge, understanding and skills which will enable them to take an active and life-long interest in the world. We hope our students will always want to look around them, to understand what they see, to appreciate other cultures and to care about their environment.

Email the department: geographydepartment@uptonhigh.co.uk

Curriculum

Key Stage Three

Students are taught a variety of Geography units throughout the first two years.

Year 7 Curriculum
Geomorphology, Map Skills, Settlement, River Features, Weather, Shopping/Traffic.

Year 8 Curriculum
Wildlife Conservation, Volcanoes, Japan, Migration, Italy, Kenya

We also explore links with Chester Zoo.

Key Stage 4

GCSE Geography AQA (8035) first exam 2018

Physical Geography – students will study - Living with the physical environment

This will include:  The challenge of natural hazards, Physical landscapes in the UK and The living world

Human Geography – students will study - Challenges in the human environment

This will include: Urban issues and challenges, The changing economic world, The challenge of resource management

Students will also complete fieldwork which will develop skills of data collection, analysis and presentation. This will prepare the students for the section of the course - Geographical applications which includes Issue evaluation and Fieldwork

Assessments

Paper 1: Living with the physical environment

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes (35% of GCSE)

Paper 2: Challenges in the human environment

Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes (35% of GCSE)

Paper 3: Geographical applications

Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes (30% of GCSE )

All three papers will offer the following types of questions: multiple choice, short answers and extended prose including 6 and 9 mark questions.

Key Stage 5

Year 12

Students will study physical units in - Dynamic Landscapes

This will include - Tectonic Processes and Hazards and Glaciated Landscapes and Change

Students will study human units in - Dynamic Places, Globalisation and Regenerating Places

Year 13

Students will study physical units in - Physical Systems and Sustainability

This will include - The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity, The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security

Students will study human units in - Human Systems and Geopolitics

This will include - Superpowers, Global Development and Connections

Students will complete fieldwork in both Year 12 and 13 which will develop skills of data collection, analysis and presentation. This will prepare the students for the independent investigation.

Assessment

Paper 1 and 2 cover all the units above 60% of qualification.

Paper 3 covering three synoptic themes 20% of the qualification and an independent investigation 20% of the qualification.

A2 Environmental Studies AQA (2441) last exam 2018

Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution – students will study future problems of energy supply, properties of pollutants and why some cause environmental damage. Managing the damage caused by pollutants.

Biological Resources and Sustainability – students will study factors controlling human population growth, food production and forestry systems and study the sustainability of human lifestyles.

Assessment:

Unit 3: Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution (25%) 1½ hrs
7 compulsory short questions and 1 essay from a choice of three titles.

Unit 4: Biological Resources and Sustainability (25%) 2 hrs
5 compulsory short questions and 1 data analysis question.
1 essay from a choice of three titles

Homework Policy
At Key Stage 3, homework is set on a regular basis to consolidate work completed in lessons. Students are expected to complete the work on time and to the best of their ability. Most tasks will take approximately 20 -30 minutes. Students can seek advice from their teacher prior to the deadline. At Key Stage 4, homework tasks are linked closely to the specification and most work is GCSE question related. Students should work towards their target grade or above.

At Key Stage 5 students are expected to complete their own research as well as well as AS and A2 based examination questions.

Marking Policy
The Department follows the whole school marking policy.

Educational Visit to Iceland 2015

28 enthusiastic geographers from Upton High School recently visited Iceland to study landscapes which feature in their GCSE and A level examinations. The students experienced a 4 day trip that took in a visit to the Blue Lagoon within an hour of landing at Kefnalik Airport!

Everyone relaxed in the geothermally heated water and took in the amazing scenery of lava fields around the lagoon. The group visited the Hellisheidi Geothermal Power Station and the Eyjafjallajokull Visitor Centre, then in the afternoon they strapped on crampons to experience a glacier walk on Solheimajokull. Students crossed the glacier with guides taking the group higher to view moulons and ice caves.

Following an early start everyone wrapped up in layers and headed to the famous black basalt beach at Vik. Students walked behind the Seljalandsfoss waterfall, boiled eggs in hot springs at Hveragerdi geothermal park and took hundreds of photographs of Gulfoss waterfall and the famous spouting Geysir.

Everyone had a fantastic time and many are already planning a return visit to this amazing country of fire and ice!!

Upton by Chester High School travelled to Iceland with “Discover the World”.