Geography
Introduction
“Geography is about understanding the world we live in, how and why it is changing, and how we manage that as a society. For enquiring souls, that dynamic process is exciting. Geography is the one holistic discipline that can deal with the issues our generation has to tackle”
Andrew Lycett, The Sunday Times
Events
Year 8: Rushall Mixed Organic Farm
The amazing summer weather heralded the start of our term of events and held as we paid our annual visit to Rushall Mixed Organic Farm with Year 8 as part of their farming unit. It was the largest group we have taken but thanks to the farm staff and their clever planning the groups of girls managed to fit in an extensive programme of activities which included looking at the farm as a system, crop rotation, diversification and pond dipping without bumping into each other too often! Some girls had the opportunity to have a very interesting talk on bee-keeping which included the sampling of the freshest honey straight from the hive. They also conducted some experiments to see if there were any negative effects of farming on the environment and had the opportunity to meet the lambs born this year. You can see more about the farm at www.rushallfarm.org.uk.
Britain from the Air Exhibition
Towards the end of term Ms Yeo and Miss Gandell attended the Schools Launch of the wonderful Britain from the Air at the Oxford Castle. The exhibition is a free, open air street gallery boasting a hundred huge aerial photographs of Great Britain reflecting the diversity of landscapes that we have. It continues until 4th September and we urge all girls (and their families) to go during the summer break as it is fantastically inspiring.
Year 11: Lulworth Cove and Studland Bay
Our run of luck that we had had with the weather throughout this term came to an end for the Year 11 trip to the Jurassic Coast. Having said this, it wasn’t as bad as last year, and we actually saw the Cove this time – just got a bit damp in the process! Spirits were high as always, particularly as the geological processes that created this stunning landscape were re-enacted through the medium of cake. This is the last Geography fieldtrip the Year 11s have before their exams and we wish them the very best for the summer.
World AIDS Day
Year 13 Geographers raised £182.20 on World AIDS Day!
Once again the Year 13 Geographers and Miss Gandell organised a Red Accessories Day to raise money on World AIDS Day. Girls wore red shoes, hair bands, tights and beads, and red ribbons were on sale throughout the day. The Year 13s studied HIV and AIDS as part of their Health Issues module in Year 12. They raised awareness of the issue through an informative and interactive assembly. The money raised has been split between two AIDS charities in the UK (the National AIDS Trust and CWAC). CWAC visits Year 9 as part of their PSHCE syllabus so brought a more personal note to the fundraising this year.
Thank you to all who participated and we look forward to fundraising with next year’s Year 13 Geographers.
Year 10 Geography visit Gloucester
The Year 10 Geographers set out on this very cold January morning to visit the City of Gloucester. Despite what felt like sub-zero temperatures, the girls remained in high spirits and were as cheerful as ever.This fieldwork complements the Unit on Changing Urban Environments and we shall be using the data in Geography lessons during the first few weeks of this term to develop new data presentation techniques and analytical skills in preparation for their Controlled Assessment in the Summer.
The Department and Curriculum
Teaching Staff
- Ms Katie Yeo
- Mrs Frances Townend
Geography is a popular subject at Oxford High School. Modern Geography provides a varied and multifaceted approach to learning. We aim to provide inspiring and stimulating lessons that challenge pupils’ perceptions of the world around us.
At OHS, Geography offers a varied and exciting curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13. The Key Stage 3 Curriculum is as follows:
Topics studied include:
Year 7
- Making Connections, Exploring England
- Changing Shopping
- OS Mapping Skills
- Rivers and Flooding
- Settlement
- Weather
Year 8
- Mapping Europe
- Coasts
- Population
- The Carajas Programme, Brazil
- Energy, People and Resources
- Farming
Year 9
- Map Projections and Mapping My World
- Tectonic Processes
- Tropical Rainforests
- Development and Globalisation
- Antarctica
We use an enquiry-led approach to all our work. We believe that good geographers should be asking questions and looking for explanations. Practical investigations play a vital part in teaching and learning at OHS. Each year group, from Year 7 to 13, has a structured programme of field and project-work:
Year 7 undertake an investigation into the shops and services in Summertown, following a fieldtrip in the Autumn Term. They also carry out a half day River Walk along the River Thames in Oxford and during the summer term, Year 7 also undertake a mini investigation into microclimates around the school site.
Year 8 complete two independent research projects on coastal erosion at Happisburgh, Norfolk, and the living conditions in Brazilian Favelas. They also visit Rushall Farm, a mixed organic farm near Pangbourne to look at the farm as a system, diversification, go pond dipping and meet the livestock.
In Year 9 the pupils’ work on Plate Tectonics and Rainforests is complemented with an activity based trip to a number of exhibits at the Natural History Museum. The Rainforest unit is further complemented with an independent investigation and a group project.
Geography at GCSE, AS and A2
GCSE
We follow the AQA A syllabus
Paper 1, which examines the Physical Geography units, is worth 37.5%. Topics covered are The Restless Earth, Water on the Land, Ice on the Land and the Challenge of Weather and Climate.
Paper 2, which examines the Human Geography units, is also worth 37.5%. Topics covered are Changing Urban Environments, Globalisation and Tourism
There is also a Local Fieldwork investigation worth 25% of the total marks. It is completed in the form of a Controlled Assessment in the Summer Term of Year 10.
Fieldwork forms an important part of the course where we reinforce class-based learning with experience in the field. The Year 10 visit to Gloucester and the Year 11 visit to the Jurassic Coast are designed to give the students the techniques and skills they will need in order to collect and analyse their own data in their Local Fieldwork Investigation, as well as provide invaluable case study material. There is also the opportunity to take part in a residential fieldtrip to Iceland every other year.
AS
We follow the AQA syllabus
Unit 1 examines both the Physical and Human Geography topics. The core Physical module of Rivers, Floods and Management builds on the knowledge gained at GCSE and the optional Physical module is Coastal Environments. The core Human module of Population Change and optional module of Health Issues are both contemporary and relevant. All of these modules present opportunities for studying themes of environmental impact, management, sustainability and citizenship.
Unit 2 is skills based, where sophisticated skills of analysis and evaluation are developed, along with the knowledge and understanding of fieldwork techniques
A2
Geography at A2 adopts an issues based approach. In Unit 3 concepts, themes and skills covered in AS are extended and developed using different settings and at larger spatial and temporal scales. Contemporary themes include World cities, Development and Globalisation, Plate Tectonics and associated hazards and Weather and Climate and associated hazards.
Unit 4 is based on practical field-based techniques along with skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation to form measured views on complex issues.
Features of the A-Level course:
- The dynamic nature of the subject is central to developing a balanced understanding of Physical and Human Geography
- A variety of forms of assessment including structured questions, extended writing and a practical paper
- Fieldwork is an integral park of the course. There is a four-day residential visit to Slapton Ley Field Studies Council Centre in Devon and a local daytrip to Oxford locations. Both are undertaken in Year 12
- Strong links to other subject areas, including Biology, Chemistry, Maths, Economics, History.
- Opportunities for decision making, group presentation, discussion and individual research
- There is no coursework!
“Geography is life. It is impossible to conceive of rounded human beings who have not grasped the fundamentals of Geography”
Film Director and Chair of the General Teaching Council