Head of Department: Mr. Paul Thompson prt@sevenoaksschool.org
The Geography Department
Geography is a popular, thriving and dynamic subject at Sevenoaks. We see our role as to encourage and inspire all age groups within the school to share our interest and passion for this highly relevant subject. Our aim is to help our students make sense of their physical and human surroundings through a variety of teaching and learning styles.
Fostering a real sense of geographical enquiry is key to our success. And there’s a bonus – Geography is a practical subject. Through Geography students learn a range of transferable skills – map use (including GIS), data analysis, problem solving and ICT. They find out how to work alone and in a team. They work directly in the real world – on ‘fieldwork’. They gain an awareness of social and environmental responsibility.
The department has seven members and a breadth of experience. The department has a well equipped specialist room with 12 networked PC's, an electronic weather station and Stevenson Screen; all classrooms are equipped and all teachers use interactive whiteboards with projectors. Information Technology, including G.I.S, Google Earth, digital mapping, memory map, internet research and computer software packages play an increasingly important role in the subject.
Years 7 & 8
We fuel interest in the subject and develop transferable geographical skills, knowledge and understanding. In Year 7 this is achieved through the study of four main topics: Geographical Skills, The Restless Surface – Tectonic Hazards, Urban Change and River Flooding. In Year 8 this is achieved through the study of the topics of Weather and Climate, Population and Resources - Can the Earth Cope?, The Globalisation of Fashion and Tourism and Antarctica.
Year 9
In Year 9 pupils develop a real sense of geographical interest and enquiry and a greater depth of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills through a wide variety of teaching and learning resources and styles. A further four 'hot' geographical topics are studied - Global Inequalities and Development, The 2012 London Olympics, Changing China and Coastal environments and their management.
Years 10 & 11
We follow the IGCSE (CIE) course. The curriculum content is divided into three themes which are collectively designed to develop an understanding of both the natural and human environment: Population and Settlement, The Natural Environment, and Economic Development and the Use of Resources. The units studied include Population dynamics, Plate tectonics, Landforms and landscape processes, Weather, climate and natural vegetation, Energy and water resources and Environmental risks and benefits. All candidates sit three papers. In Paper 1, candidates will be required to answer three structured resource-based questions involving problem solving and free response writing. Paper 2 is mainly skills-based and will test a candidate's ability to handle various types of geographical information. Paper 4 is the 'Alternative to coursework' – the primary feature of questions in this paper is that they will involve an appreciation from a theoretical standpoint of a range of techniques used in a variety of fieldwork studies. There is no required coursework element with the IGCSE (CIE) course. Geographical skills are developed through field investigations, data handling, presentation and interpretation and use of a variety of ICT software packages.
The Sixth Form
In the Sixth Form, Geography can be taken at either Standard or Higher Level for the International Baccalaureate.
At Standard Level, pupils study the Core Theme – Patterns and Change. This provides an overview of the geographic foundation for the key global issues of our times. The purpose is to provide a broad factual and conceptual introduction to each topic and to the UN's Millennium Development Goals, in particular those concerning poverty reduction, gender equality, improvements in health and education and environmental sustainability. The Core Theme also develops knowledge of the likely causes and impacts of climate change, a major contemporary issue of immense international significance. In addition, two other themes are studied – Oceans and their coastal margins and Extreme environments . Students will also acquire a range of geographical skills: mapping, graphics, statistical calculations, data research/processing/interpretation and the application of ICT. There is an element of Internal Assessment leading to one written report (25%) based on a fieldwork question, information collection and analysis with evaluation (max 2500 words). The final examination includes two papers. Paper 1 combines short-answer questions and one extended response question. In Paper 2, students answer two structured questions.
The Higher Level programme includes the same Core Theme as the Standard Level. HL pupils study three optional themes – Oceans and their Coastal margins, Extreme environments and Urban environments. In addition, HL students study the HL extension – Global interactions. The HL extension theme focuses on the global interactions, flows and exchanges arising from disparities that exist between places. It presents important and contestable geographic issues of change in space and time. HL students also acquire a range of geographical skills: mapping, graphics, statistical calculations, data research/processing/interpretation and the application of ICT. There is an Internal Assessment leading to one written report (25%) based on a fieldwork question, information collection and analysis with evaluation (max 2500 words). The final examination consists of three papers, including short-answer questions, extended response questions, structured questions and an essay question.
The Extended Essay is an intrinsic part of the IB Diploma, and a number of candidates choose to submit their Extended Essay in Geography.
Click here to see examination results