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The Marlborough Science Academy

Geography - Key Stage 4

Students who choose to study Geography at Key Stage 4 will follow the AQA GCSE Geography course. This builds on the skills that have been studied at Key Stage 3.

The areas covered in the course include:

  • Aid
  • Coasts
  • Earthquakes
  • Energy and development
  • Environmental issues
  • Extreme environments
  • Global resources
  • Globalisation
  • Map skills
  • Population
  • Rainforests
  • Rivers and flooding
  • Sustainability
  • Trade
  • Tropical storms
  • Urban development

The types of tasks that are completed are:

  • Data analysis
  • Data extrapolation
  • Data presentation
  • Decision-making
  • Empathy skills (understanding other people’s points of view)
  • Field sketching
  • Fieldwork (costal management)
  • G.I.S. (Geographical Information Systems)
  • Hazard mapping
  • I.T. skills
  • Literacy
  • Note-taking
  • Numeracy and statistical skills
  • Ordinance Survey map skills/using an atlas
  • Paired work
  • Photo analysis
  • Presentations
  • Reading
  • Research
  • Risk analysis
  • Sequencing
  • Watching videos

The course is assessed through examination:

  • Unit 1: Challenges in the physical world, a 1 hour 30 minute written paper worth 35% of the final grade
  • Unit 2: Challenges in human world, a 1 hour 30 minute written paper worth 35% of the final grade
  • Unit 3: Geographical application, a 1 hour 30 minute written paper worth 30% of the final grade

Students who study Geography can go on to gain employment in areas such as disaster management (EA), volcanologist (studies volcanoes), seismologist, accountancy, business analyst, town planning, conservation work, leisure and tourism, engineering, surveying and management, energy, sustainability and geographic information systems specialist. 

Geography is a good general qualification for entrance into large firms at all levels as it provides such a wide range of skills e.g. interpreting data, presenting data, awareness of current global issues etc.

Curriculum Implementation 

Click here to view the curriculum implementation overview for Geography at Key Stage 4. 

Curriculum Timelines 

Click here to view the curriculum timeline for Geography at Key Stage 4. 

Curriculum Learning Journey 

Click here to view the learning journey for Geography at Key Stage 4. 

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