Geography
‘When we complete fieldwork in Geography, we feel proud that this diverse and amazing world is on our doorstep and we are made to look at the world in a better and more respectful way.’ Year 11 student'
'Geography underpins a lifelong ‘conversation’ about Earth as the home of humankind.’ Geography enables students to understand the complex and interconnected nature of the physical and human world we live in and to become informed citizens. Through their study at West Exe School we aim to provide students with the means to think about the world in new ways and ‘think like a geographer’. We look to provide students with the geographical knowledge they need to understand contemporary challenges facing the planet and live as knowledgeable citizens - aware of their own local communities in a global setting.
We deliver a geography curriculum that supports students to understand the importance of sustainable futures.
What makes us special?
An experienced and dedicated team of Geography teachers work incredibly hard to ensure that all learners leave us with a broad, balanced understanding of the world they live in. Our students understand the complexities of the world around them and learn to be active participants in their local communities as well as the wider world.
‘We are encouraged to explore the world around us and be curious whilst asking difficult questions to broaden our knowledge of the world around us.’ Year 11 student
How do we achieve this?
In lessons we foster curiosity and empathy about the world around us providing students with the means to (and knowledge to) question and debate, such that they have the skills to be active participants in the local and global community. These lifelong skills and attributes prepare our students for the world around them. The geography curriculum is accessible to all students through the use of adaptive teaching approaches and implementing high expectations. We aims to deliver a geography curriculum that supports students understanding of the importance of sustainable futures for all.
‘We are supported to become more resilient in our approach to longer answer questions to ensure that we receive as many marks as possible in exams and assessments’ Current Year 11 student
Curriculum 5 Year Plan
In Years 7-9, students will study a broad range of geographic topics, of both physical and human geography. Underpinning these topics are key threshold concepts that tie the learning together including sustainability, development and inequality.
The Geography curriculum at West Exe School exposes pupils to a rich variety of geographic scholarship, breadth and depth of knowledge. Students are exposed to fascinating case studies of places all around the world to help support their understanding of key concepts. In addition, this help broaden our students understanding of people and places globally, which enables them to develop empathy and understanding.
Success in Geography
West Exe students who study GCSE Geography consistently over-perform against targets and achieve outcomes well above national averages. GCSE Geography is a very popular option subject, with many students choosing to continue to study it in Years 10 and 11. In addition, many students choose to continue their Geography journey beyond GCSE to A level and beyond.
Assessment
Low-stakes assessment takes place in every lesson, with all learners expected to play an active role in class, be that responding to cold-called questions or self-assessing their own written work. Mid-cycle assessments will test students’ knowledge of the subject content and well as providing an opportunity for extended writing on a recent topic of study. At KS3, the more formal end-of-cycle assessments will test students across the subject’s full range of knowledge, understanding and skills. In Years 10 and 11, all mid-cycle and end-of cycle assessments take the form of actual GCSE questions and papers that provide students with regular and meaningful exposure to the demands of their final exams.
Knowledge Organisers
All Geography knowledge organisers include subject-specific vocabulary, and how it is used in context, as well as key threshold concepts. KS4 knowledge organisers provide more in-depth information that summarises each unit of the six units of study. These can be used as valuable revision resources in the build-up to both mock and final exams.
Support and intervention
The West Exe Geography curriculum is supported by a suite of materials on Google Classroom. In addition at KS4 students use the online platform Seneca which provides content and exam questions. KS4, students also have access to revision resources including past papers, model answers, video resources and cast study detail. Additional teaching sessions are delivered both at the end of Year 10 and in the countdown to the Year 11 exams for targeted groups.
Enrichment
Beyond the classroom, there are many enrichment activities that students can get involved in. Including several exciting elective programmes focussing on natural disasters, the use of GIS (geographical information systems) and the geographic world of criminal activity. We also take students out of the classroom to teach them how to use key fieldwork skills.