The importance of geography

The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.

Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people’s lives, now and in the future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially and use maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

Geography at KS3

The study of geography includes:

1. a variety of scales, from personal, local, regional, national, international and continental, to global
2. a range of investigations, focusing on places, themes or issues
3. the location of places and environments
4. key aspects of the UK, including its changing human and physical geography, current issues and its place in the world today
5. different parts of the world in their wider settings and contexts, including the European Union and regions or countries in different states of development
6. physical geography, physical processes and natural landscapes
7. human geography, built and managed environments and human processes
8. interactions between people and their environments, including causes and consequences of these interactions, and how to plan for and manage their future impact.

Geography at KS4

GCSE Geography AQA Specification B (3032)

The course offers opportunities for candidates to:

1. acquire knowledge and understanding of a range of places, environments and geographical patterns at a range of scales from local to global, as well as an understanding of the physical and human processes, including decision making, which affect their development;
2. develop a sense of place and an appreciation of environment, as well as awareness of the ways in which people and environments interact, the importance of sustainable development in those interactions, and the opportunities, challenges and constraints faced by people in different places;
3. develop an understanding of global citizenship and the ways in which people and environments are interdependent;
4. appreciate that the study of geography is dynamic, not only because places, geographical features, patterns and issues change, but also
because new ideas and methods lead to new interpretations;
5. understand the significance and efforts of people’s values and attitudes, including their own, in how decisions are made about the use
and management of environments and resources, in relation to geographical issues and questions;
6. acquire and apply the skills and techniques – including those of mapwork, fieldwork and information, and communication technology (ICT) – needed to conduct geographical study and enquiry.

Assessment is by exam and coursework in Year 11