The Joseph Rowntree School

KS4 - Geography

Curriculum Knowledge 

Year 10

Students begin KS4 with challenges we face in the physical geography world. We study this first to allow students  consideration of the direct and indirect effects of human interaction with the Earth and the atmosphere. Urban issues and challenges: The aims of this unit are to develop an understanding of the factors that produce a diverse variety of human environments both locally in Leeds and globally in Mumbai. Living world: In this section, students are required to study Ecosystems, Tropical rainforests and cold environments. Here they build on the foundations of KS3 knowledge of diverse places. Next students study coasts, with a strong focus on preparing them for fieldwork in Hornsea. During the fieldwork unit, students get the opportunity to develop not only geographically practical skills by confidently using qualitative and quantitative data - but employable skills such as team work, leadership, problem solving as well as developing effective presentation and evaluation skills.

Year 11

Students begin year 11 with rivers which builds on the foundation skills taught in year 8, with a more critical view of management.Then we study changing economic world with a focus on the UKs economy and Nigeria. By this point of the course students have greater skills for dealing with the complex issue of spatial and temporal change to global economies through exposure to a diverse range of places in year 10. We finish the course with resource management, just in time for students to be ready for the pre-released paper for paper 3 in March. Here, students not only get to look closer at an issue already covered in the course, but get to apply the investigative, analytical and critical thinking skills developed since year 7.

 

Skill Development

 

Subject Specific Skills:

  • Giving students an understanding of topical geographical issues and the confidence to understand and take part in current debates through exploring case studies in the UK, HICs, NEEs and LICs
  • Graphical, numerical and Statistical  interpretation – extracting evidence to support arguments.
  • Understanding the world on a political context
  • Cartographical skills - interactions of human and physical factors on OS maps and modern technology

 

Wider Academic Skills / Attributes:

  • Ability to analyse and understand their role in society, by considering different viewpoints, values and attitudes, and be able to question and make judgements.
  • Develop a range of employable skills such as problem solving, leadership, team work
  • Creating and communicating an informed argument based on evidence
  • Enquiry skills - planning, collecting and analysing a variety of quantitative and qualitative data.

 

Personal Development - SMSC & Cultural Capital (Opportunities / Experiences)

 

  • Deeper understanding of the contemporary world around them, locally - nationally and internationally, and their role in it
  • Appreciate individual physical and human differences within our world - and understand processes/reasons driving this
  • Explore moral dilemmas of an ever changing world - to develop thoughtful citizens
  • Experience a range of environments through fieldwork, enhancing our students’ cultural capital e.g.  Trip to Leeds South Bank Regeneration area, The Climate Innovation District Leeds, river management on the River Aire and coastal management along the Holderness Coastline in Hornsea and Flamborough Head.
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