Department Philosophy

At North Birmingham Academy, Geography is a popular subject at GCSE and AS/A2 Level.

Key Stage 3 Geography is seen as an important foundation and springboard for students who choose to study Geography at GCSE level.  Our Key Stage 3 course should be seen as a relevant, progressive and coherent programme.

Key Stage 3 Course Overview

Key Stage 3 Geography is taught as a part of the Creative Curriculum in Year 7 and independently in Years 8 and 9. Students explore the concepts and events which shape the world we live.

Units of study during the Key Stage will include:

• China Today
• The Geography of Chocolate
• Adventure Landscapes
• Paradise Lost
• Raging Planet
• The Day After Tomorrow
• Birmingham
• Fantastic Places
• Risky World
• Geography in the Movies
• Amazon
• London 2012 Olympics
• Impossible Places

Course Structure

Students study Geography for two hours per week in Year 8 and Year 9. Units are studied on a half termly basis with continuous assessment conducted by both staff and students. Geography’s homework policy is for half termly projects to be completed which extend the skills and understanding acquired in the classroom.

GCSE Geography Course Overview

This is a new and exciting course for 2009. The four themes covered within this course are as follows:

• Extreme environments (hot and cold environments, mountain environments).
• You as a global citizen - the impact of our decisions.
• Similarities and differences (study of a UK location and a non- UK country).
• Issues in our fast changing world (population change, climate change, trade and the challenges of planning).

Course Structure

• Extreme environments
  • 25% overall – Examination at the end of the year.
• You as global citizen- the impact of our decisions
  • 25% overall- two pieces of assessed work, based on consumer decisions and a local retail area.
• Similarities and differences
  • 25% overall- Examination at the end of the year.
• Issues in our fast changing world
  • 25% overall- Examination at the end of the year.
• Fieldwork at Corris (Wales) and in the local area.

Progression Routes and Qualifications

This new Geography GCSE course is very topical and relevant for the world we live in today, therefore you will be studying up to date case studies throughout. The knowledge and skills you will acquire from this course will make you a suitable candidate in a variety of different careers.

The skills you will gain are:

• Communication skills- you will develop excellent written and oral skills including writing essays, projects and presentations.
• Team and leadership skills- you will develop teamwork on the fieldwork trips you will be attending as part of the course.
• ICT- by the end of the course, you will have used ICT well in a variety of forms e.g. spreadsheets, data collection, the Internet.
• You will develop skills in complex decision-making, by becoming environmentally and socially aware of a vast number of issues around the world.
• You will also have the opportunity to become aware and skilled in Geographical Information Systems (GIS)- a fairly new mapping system, which uses highly technical remote sensing from satellites. This is increasing being used in many different business areas.