Department Vision
We aim to inspire a love of Geography and ensure students are equipped with the key geographical knowledge and skills they need for the wider world. To study Geography is to investigate the people and places of our planet, often set in the context of prevalent global issues. Students who study Geography are inspired to be enthusiastic about current events, as well as curious about the world around them. Geography offers a variety of skills which complement other subjects and are valued by future employers, with one of the highest rates of graduate employability. These include enabling students to make observations about the world around them, geographical enquiry skills, data skills, map skills, as well as investigating the world through the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). We also make the most of our Central London location to support a wide variety of field trips and super-curricular opportunities to stimulate students and expand their horizons.
At Queen’s Gate we have a diverse range of fieldworks throughout all teaching levels that aim to instil students with strong route to enquiry skills, as well as enabling students to gain confidence, transferable skills and the independence to undertake their own geographical enquiries. This includes trips to the Olympic Park, Epping Forest, Brick Lane, Hyde Park, South Kensington and the Isle of Wight, with the opportunity to attend international trips more widely at Queen’s Gate.
Years 7-9
In Years 7-9, students study a diverse and dynamic range of topics with skills embedded in Geography. We aim to instil students with an inquisitive approach to the world around them, as well as giving them a valuable lead into learning at GCSE and A Level.
In Year 7, students start by learning various topics by investigating different areas of Physical and Human Geography. They then move on to consider the Geography of the UK, as well as developing their cartographic skills. Finally they gain an understanding of Weather and Climate.
In Year 8, students study Natural Hazards, as well as Ecosystems with a focus on Tropical Rainforests, finally studying the Future of Food. Students also complete a Summer Term project linked to the Royal Geographical Society’s Young Geographer of the Year Competition.
In Year 9, students start by gaining a valuable appreciation of arguably one of our biggest global issues, Climate Change. They continue by looking at the Geography of Development and finish the year by investigating global economic and cultural change through a topic on Globalisation, TNCs and Economic Change in the UK.
GCSE
Students who opt for Geography at GCSE study the AQA 9-1 Specification. The course covers a variety of Human and Physical topics, emphasising the relationships between people and the environment, as well as instilling students with a ‘sense of place’ through the learning of example and case studies. A variety of skills are acquired, including interpretation and analysis of a range of geographical evidence such as written reports, newspaper articles, graphs, maps, photographs and data. Independent learning and the discussion of topical issues are also an important part of the course.
In Year 10, students examine Urban Issues and Challenges, The Living World (Ecosystems), The Physical Diversity of the UK (River and Coastal Landscapes) and start to look at the Changing Economic World. In Year 11, students go on to finish the Changing Economic World, Natural Hazards and The Challenge of Resource Management.
Geography is also about getting ‘out there’ and engaging with the environments we study in the classroom. At GCSE there are two field trips. The human field trip visits the Olympic Park to study Urban Regeneration and the physical field trip visits the Epping Forest Field Studies Council Centre to study River Landscapes.
QG Super Curriculum
We make the most of our central London location through regularly attending the Royal Geographical Society for their prestigious lecture series, as well as providing students access to a monthly copy of Geographical magazines. Furthermore, we encourage students to enter a range of national competitions, such as essay competitions and the Royal Geographical Society’s Young Geographer of the Year Award.
