Geography

Geography at Hobart inspires curiosity about the world and helps students understand the complex relationships between people, places, and environments. Our curriculum develops strong geographical knowledge of a variety of places around the world which incorporates map and fieldwork skills, as well as critical thinking.  Students explore physical and human geography at local, national, and global scales, learning how landscapes are formed, how societies develop, and how human actions impact the planet. We aim to create responsible global citizens who appreciate diversity, sustainability, and question the ever-changing world around them.

“Without geography, you’re nowhere.” – Jimmy Buffett

In KS3 geography, students learn a wide variety of both human and physical concepts with regular opportunities to develop geographical skills and create a synoptic view of the world.

Students have three formal assessments per year in exam conditions.

Year 7
Autumn Term:  Discovering the British Isles (map work, the UK and weather of the UK), Assessment 1 Discovering the British Isles end of unit test.

Spring Term and Summer Term 1:  Discovering Planet Earth (the world’s continents, oceans, Earthquakes, volcanoes and rocks, soils and weathering), Assessment 2 Discovering Planet Earth end of unit test.

Summer Term 2:  Discovering Africa (basic geography of Africa, Africa’s biomes, Africa’s population), Assessment 3 end of year exam.

Year 8
Autumn Term:  Discovering global citizenship (global inequality, development, aid and trade), Assessment 1 – Development end of unit test)

Spring Term:  Discovering Population (population, migration, urbanisation and slums), Assessment 2 – Discovering Population end of unit test.

Summer Term:  Discovering our coastlines (processes, landforms, coastal management). Discovering earth’s natural resources (energy, renewable, non-renewable, fossil fuels), Assessment 4 – end of year exam

Year 9
Autumn Term:  Discovering Glaciation, Assessment 1 – end of topic test. Discovering Earth’s waterways (rivers), Assessment 2 – end of topic test.

Spring Term:  Discovering global biomes (ecosystems, deserts, rainforests and tundra), Assessment 3 – end of topic test.

Summer Term:  Discovering threats to our planet (climate change, tropical storms, water deficit, food shortages, fast fashion, waste), Assessment 3 – end of year exam.

GCSE 

At Key stage 4, students follow the OCR A Geography GCSE specification.  Geography A encourages students to think like geographers through the study of geographical themes applied within the context of the UK and wider world.  This GCSE (9–1) in Geography A (Geographical Themes) will provide learners with a solid grounding, whether they are going on to Further Education, Higher Education or the workplace.  The qualification aims to inspire a passion for geography within learners which encourages an interest in the subject beyond academic achievements, for the rest of their life.

We study a total of 10 case studies which allow learners to apply their knowledge.

Paper 1 – The River Tees, North Norfolk Coastline, Salford (an area of regeneration), Leeds (A major city) and the Somerset Levels flood 2014.

Paper 2 – The Peruvian Amazon, The Andros Barrier Reef, Ethiopia (LIDC) Istanbul (EDC City) and Australia’s ‘Big Dry’ drought event.

Human and physical fieldwork is completed in Loddon and Cromer to investigate local issues and topics.

The course is assessed at the end of Year 11 with 3 separate exams.

• Paper 1 – Living in the UK (1hr)
• Paper 2 – The world around us (1hr)
• Paper 3 – Geographical Skills and Fieldwork (1hr 30mins)

Resources

Pupils require no specific equipment either at key stage 3 or key stage 4 and will be provided with textbooks and resources throughout their studies.  Revision guides specific to OCR A GCSE can be purchased.

Geography provides students with a wide range of transferrable skills that are valued by employers, colleges and universities. 

Geography Careers

Urban Planner – Uses geographical data to design sustainable towns and cities, considering population, transport, and land use.

Environmental Scientist – Studies ecosystems, climate change, and human impact to help protect the natural world.

Meteorologist – Analyses weather patterns and climate systems to forecast weather and understand climate change.

Disaster Risk Manager – Works to reduce the impacts of natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, and volcanoes.

International Development Worker – Applies geographical understanding of inequality, resources, and development to improve quality of life globally.

Coastal Engineer – Manages coastal environments by designing defences to reduce erosion and flooding.

Environmental Consultant – Works with businesses and governments to reduce environmental impact, using knowledge of ecosystems, sustainability, and climate change.

 

Contact Details
Miss Z Smith - Curriculum Lead
GCSE Exam Board
GCSE Exam board - Students follow the OCR Geography syllabus specification A.

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Resources

Pupils require no specific equipment either at key stage 3 or key stage 4 and will be provided with textbooks and resources throughout their studies. Revision guides specific to OCR A GCSE can be purchased via the school at the start of Year 10.