Geography
Curriculum Overview
Overall intent
To inspire students to have a thirst for knowledge and discovery and to be globally aware citizens.
The Geography curriculum at King Edward VI School, Lichfield has been created to build in a wide range of skills and knowledge as learner’s progress through each key stage. The units are designed so that students study a range of different human and physical geography topics and within each topic explore the interrelationships between the human and physical factors. Students are given the opportunity to study both local and distant places with a strong emphasis on ensuring our students are globally aware. For example, some of the countries we study include China, India, Kenya, Afghanistan and Somalia. Students explore the challenges and opportunities that different countries face and how these may change overtime.
Embedding literacy
Communicating opinions and developing arguments are key areas within our curriculum. As a result, we strive to develop student’s verbal and written communication and ability to read around the subject in order to validate their arguments or findings. Students are given a variety of opportunities to practice and display their literacy skills throughout each year. For example, in their biomes speech or through extended writing on topics such as the extent to which the clothing industry is damaging. We have been working to improve knowledge of vocabulary at the start of our topics by getting students to engage with activities such as forming definitions, the use of Frayer models and dual coding. In addition, we are ensuring we embed more opportunities to read subject specific texts in class with guided reading activities and various comprehension based exercises.
Encouraging independence
Our aim is to create learners that are intrinsically motivated to learn by using contemporary, and sometimes contentious, lesson themes that spark interest and discussion. We aim to update lesson material to tie in with events that are currently occurring globally such as our ‘war on plastic’ section and effects of palm oil use in our ecosystems unit. Students are then expected to carry out independent research into these areas and we have found they are driven to do so by the topic material that they are interested in. We aim to give some freedom of choice when researching, such as the option to pick between different ecosystems so students are engaged by the area that appeals to them. However, students are always given an introductory lesson, often in the Library Resource Centre, to guide them in the areas they should search for the material and are given criteria to focus their research so that the task is manageable. The outcome is that students often go above and beyond to create a thorough and well thought out piece of work.
Fieldwork and enrichment
Key Stage 3
In addition, students take part in local fieldwork to give them an idea of how to carry out investigations and apply their knowledge to real life situations. These include crime surveys, hedgerow studies and microclimate investigations. Where possible, students get the opportunity to listen to outside speakers, such as RGS ambassadors, who get students to engage with contemporary geographical themes, such as the importance of cultural capital.
Key Stage 4
It is a compulsory requirement that students complete one human and one physical piece of fieldwork in order to complete paper 3 of the course (the skills paper). We currently complete this on a half day to Digbeth and a full day to Birches Valley. In addition, there is often an opportunity for students to go on an overseas residential, which in past years has been to Iceland. However, this trip is only available to students that have had a positive behaviour record.
Challenge for Gifted and Talented Students
If you have any queries about the geography courses at King Edwards, then please e-mail the Head of Geography: Klowe@keslichfield.org.uk.
Staff
The following members of staff form the Geography department at King Edwards:
| Staff Member | Job Title |
|---|---|
| Mrs K Lowe | Head of Geography |
| Miss G Merry | Second in Geography |
| Mrs K Riley | Lead Teacher for Literacy and Teacher of Geography |
| Mrs N Smith | Teacher of Geography |
| Miss R Thomas | Achievement Leader (Year 8) and Teacher of Geography |
