Geography
Who’s who in the Department?
- Mrs K. Mitchell - Head of Department
- Mr M. Casstles
- Mrs R. Finbow
- Mr J. Keegan
- Miss L. Richardson
- Mrs S. Larkin
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.
Educational Visit to Iceland 2018
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”.