skip to main content

Geography

Geography

The interaction of people and their environment in shaping the landscape is more important than ever so Geography at Polam Hall aims to produce an informed understanding of the modern world and to encourage students to think for themselves.

Geography is compulsory for Years 7-9 and the National Curriculum’s emphasis on a grasp of the fundamentals of the subject forms the core of the work in the lower forms. We concentrate on developing skills, understanding and knowledge of geographical processes. Key skills of decision making and problem solving are acquired and the use of ICT is encouraged through project work and fieldwork.

Year 7

The focus is on the acquisition and development of skills using atlases to acquire spatial awareness and the interpretation of OS maps so students can handle them with confidence. Other topics include settlement location and change, transport, floods and water resources.

Year 8

Differentiation between human and physical geography begins to appear. Human topics include examples of primary and secondary industries, population, migration and a case study of a less economically developed country such as Kenya. The emphasis in physical geography is on the processes of weathering and erosion and a study of coastal landforms.

Year 9

Many of the topics here provide a base for future GCSE work. We consider environmental issues such as National Park management, Mediterranean ecosystems, weather and climate together with a study of a more economically developed country within the EU such as Italy, and hazards such as avalanches, earthquakes and volcanoes.

At GCSE we study AQA Specification A. Students study a range of physical and human topics and complete a controlled assessment. The course develops a wide range of knowledge and skills. In Yr 10 we study urban and rural landscapes and tourism and also collect data for the assessment. Physical geography topics such as tectonics, rivers and coasts or glaciation are studied in Year 11.