Geography
The Geography team at Southlands High School is dedicated to providing a comprehensive and engaging education that inspires our students to explore and understand the world around them. Our curriculum is designed to foster curiosity and critical thinking, guiding students through a dynamic exploration of our planet’s physical and human landscapes.
Our Key Stage 3 Geography curriculum is built upon five foundational cornerstones: physical systems, sustainability, development, risk, and globalisation. These essential themes provide the framework for students to acquire powerful geographical knowledge and skills. Each topic is crafted around thought-provoking questions that drive inquiry and understanding, such as “Do polar landscapes need protecting?”, “Can we use resources sustainably?”, “What is happening underneath our feet?”, and “How does money move around the world?”.
Students embark on a global journey, studying diverse environments from the UK to polar regions, the Amazon rainforest, and the Sahara desert. Practical learning is emphasized through experiences like our Year 7 trip to a modern dairy farm, enriching their understanding of farming and food production.
At Key Stage 4, our Geography curriculum follows the AQA GCSE Geography specification, providing a comprehensive and engaging exploration of diverse geographical topics. The specification is split into 3 papers.
Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment
Students study Natural Hazards, focusing on tropical storms and earthquakes, Ecosystems like tropical rainforests and hot deserts, and UK Physical Landscapes with hands-on coastal fieldwork to Sefton Sand dunes.
Paper 2: Challenges in the Human Environment
This paper covers Urban Challenges through the study of Liverpool and Lagos as dynamic cities, Changing Economic World comparing the UK and Nigeria, and Resource Management focusing on sustainable water, energy, and food use. We visit Liverpool city centre to complete fieldwork linked to the regeneration of the city.
Paper 3: Geographical Applications
Engaging in issue evaluation and fieldwork, students apply their knowledge to real-world contexts, enhancing their analytical skills.
Through our Geography program, students at Southlands develop not only a deep understanding of the world but also the skills to think and speak like geographers. Our aim is to nurture informed, inquisitive, and responsible global citizens who are prepared to engage with the complexities of our changing world.
