Why we teach Geography

Geography at St Paul’s Academy is wide-ranging and engaging. It ignites a sense of curiosity and fascination in our students. It is taught in a way that opens students’ eyes to the world around them, aiming to remove the barriers that would allow students to experience different cultures and environments. Through classroom and outdoor learning, students will be able to extend their knowledge of locations, places, environments and processes at a range of different scales. We aim to make the abstract more relatable and understandable. Geography enables young people to become environmentally informed, thoughtful and enquiring citizens, making them positive ambassadors to the world around them. The aim over the next five years is to develop skills which enable our students to have a varied understanding of how to mitigate the challenges our world faces in the future.

Our vision for Geography at St Paul's

Studying Geography at St Paul’s Academy inspires our students to be curious about the interconnected world around them, the challenges they face in the 21st Century and their place within it, making them stewards of their environments and proactive members of the community. The aim over the next five years is to develop skills which enable our students to have a varied understanding of how to mitigate the challenges our world faces in the future. 

By the end of Year 11, students will have acquired essential knowledge that sets them on the path to being reflective global citizens. The Geography curriculum maintains coherence through carefully sequenced and planned lessons, providing practical and theoretical opportunities for students to flourish. Our inclusive approach ensures participation for all, and our department enriches the experience through fieldwork, trips and guest speakers.

GCSE Geography 

Exam board: OCR B

What will I study? 

The GCSE syllabus comprises both physical and human components, alongside the geographical enquiry. The course is designed to encourage learners to develop and extend their knowledge and understanding of key events and societies in a local, national and global context. Studying Geography provides students with the opportunity to understand more about the world around them, the challenges they face and their place within it. It gives students the opportunity to become critical thinkers and to develop their own arguments. 

What skills will I develop? 

Through classroom and outdoor learning, students will be able to extend their knowledge of locations, places, environments and processes, at a range of different scales. 

• Our Natural World – physical and human geography, including global issues such as climate change, tectonic hazards, causes of global inequality and rapid urban growth. 
• People & Society – the human and physical geography of the UK. You'll look at local case studies, such as migration and urbanisation in Birmingham. You will also learn more about coastal and river processes and pressures. 
• Geographical Exploration – Apply geographical knowledge, understanding, skills and approaches appropriately and creatively to real-world contexts, including fieldwork, and to contemporary situations and issues; and develop well-evidenced arguments drawing on their geographical knowledge and understanding. 

How will I be assessed? 

The course follows an outline of three terminal exams.

These include: 

Paper 1: Our Natural World 1 hour 15 minutes (35%) 70 marks

Paper 2: People and Society 1 hour 15 minutes (35%) 70 marks

Paper 3: Geography Exploration 1 hour 30 minutes (30%) 60 marks 

Where can this course take me? 

Geography enables young people to become environmentally informed, thoughtful and enquiring citizens. Geography is seen by universities and sixth form providers as a 'facilitating' subject. These facilitating subjects, like Geography, provide you with literacy, analytical and problem-solving skills required in many colleges, university degrees or work. There is a wide range of careers that can be pursued within Geography. Those who progress further with geography end up in a wide range of careers including disaster response, charity sector, town planning, tourism, business and banking, law, international aid, teaching, renewable energy, engineering, architecture and more! 

 Head of Department: Miss Arissa Buckley