Geography

All pupils in years 7 - 9 study Geography. It is a popular option at GCSE and for A-level.

Aims
At Our Lady of Sion, we aim to present Geography as an exciting subject. We aim to ensure that all students develop their skills to the full within the structure set by the national curriculum and other syllabi. Geography's role is not restricted to the acquisition of general geographical knowledge, but it should answer questions raised by basic human curiosity. It should use a wide range of evidence such as pictures, statistical data, travel literature, maps, scientific surveys and newspaper articles. Geography is concerned with explanation and analysis of the world around us, whether relating the physical appearance of the landscape or the patterns of settlement shown on a map. It is concerned with categorising of places, types of settlement, comparison of more with less economically developed countries and so on. The subject encompasses environmental issues which need to be approached as part of a concerted programme with other departments. There is interdependence with other areas of the curriculum as geography is concerned with places and change. The question of how, why, what and when geography interlinks with other subjects is important. Geography should investigate important issues at local, national and global scales through time and space.

The Geography course taught to Years 7-9 consists of an integrated programme based on the Key Geography series by David Waugh and Tony Bushell.
The year groups have the following allocation of time:
Year 7: 2 x 40 minutes = 1.3 hours per week.
Year 8: 2 x 40 minutes = 1.3 hours per week
Year 9: 2 x 40 minutes = 1.3 hours per week

GCSE: AQA Geography A 4030
Year 10: 2 x 80 minutes = 2.6 hours per week
Year 11: 2 x 80 minutes = 2.6 hours per week

A-Level: AQA Geography A 2030
Year 12: 6 x 40 minutes = 4.0 hours per week
Year 13: 7 x 40 minutes = 4.6 hours per week

Homework
Homework is set on a regular basis starting with twenty minutes a week in Year 7 - 9 and progressing to about an hour per week in Years 10-11. In Years 12 and 13 private study and homework will increase in line with the work level required for their appropriate examinations. Students in Years 12 and 13 are expected to consider the work as a minimum and a jumping off for further study. Extensive background reading is encouraged.

Exam Results and Statistics
In 2011 23 pupils took GCSE Geography. The pass rate at A-C was 87%, with 43.5% achieving A*/A grades.
10 pupils took A-Level Geography. The pass rate at A-B was  90%. The average points score per pupil was 9.2
In 2010 27 pupils took GCSE Geography. The pass rate at A-C was 100%, with 66.7% achieving A*/A grades.
12 pupils took A-Level Geography. The pass rate at A-B was  83.3%. The average points score per pupil was 8.67

In 2009 21 pupils took GCSE Geography. The pass rate at A-C was 95.2%, with 61.9% achieving A*/A grades.
5 pupils took A-Level Geography. The pass rate at A-B was  100%. The average points score per pupil was 9.2

Staffing: Mr. J. Arnold BEd - Head of Department
Mrs. C. Dudson BA PGCE

To See Year 7 Syllabus Click here
To See Year 8 Syllabus Click here
To See Year 9 Syllabus Click here
To See GCSE Syllabus Click here 
To See A-Level Syllabus Click here

To see photos of Year 12 Field Trip to Snowdonia 2011 Click Here

To see photos of Snowdonia 2010 Click Here

Back to Academic Departments Homepage