Geography
"Because it's there!’
Mountaineer George Mallory was once asked why he wanted to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain. He replied “Because it’s there”.
The same quote could be applied to why pupils study the world through Geography here at Immanuel College.
The Geography Department at Immanuel College aims to provide pupils with opportunities to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world, and its people, that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Pupils are provided with opportunities to learn about diverse places, people, resources, natural and human environments as well as developing their understanding of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.
From Raging Rivers and Map Skills in Year 7 to Tourism and Globalisation in Year 8 to the Geography of Deserts in Year 9 – these are just some of the areas that pupils study at Key Stage 3.
Currently the Cambridge Geography IGCSE is taught in Key Stage 4. It combines traditional themes such as Population, Settlement, Volcanoes and Earthquakes with essential mapwork skills. Pupils begin the IGCSE course during Year 9. There are two exam papers to sit at the end of Year 11 (worth 45% and 27.5% respectively) and one piece of coursework (worth 27.5% of the IGCSE) produced beforehand.
Students study the Cambridge International A Level in Key Stage 5. This is a two-year course that covers a broad range of physical and human topics. Four exams are sat at the end of Year 13, each worth 25% of the overall grade. Students are expected to learn independently as well as in the classroom.
We provide a range of extra-curricular activities at lunchtimes which give students opportunities to develop their subject skills, take part in debates and mix with pupils from other year groups. This includes GEOGSOC, our Geography Society, which meets to discuss different global issues which the pupils present themselves, thereby giving them the opportunity to think about geographical issues beyond the classroom. There are also opportunities for field trips at both GCSE and A-Level which include an investigation into sustainable tourism in a local green space, exploring the stunning Dorset Jurassic Coastline, with features such as Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove, and a guided tour of a local factory to see it’s inner workings.
