Geography: Exploring People, Places and Planet

 Term 1 – Biomes & Rainforests 

At the start of Year 8, students develop their understanding of global ecosystems by studying world biomes. They then focus on tropical rainforests, exploring their climate, vegetation and wildlife, as well as the ways in which human activity threatens these environments. Students also examine sustainable management strategies and complete a decision-making activity, which helps them develop reasoning and evaluation skills. 

Term 2 – Globalisation & Rivers 

In Term 2, students explore globalisation through the fashion industry and consider how their own consumer choices affect people and environments around the world, particularly in poorer countries. They then study river landscapes, building on their prior learning from coastal landscapes. Students learn how rivers are shaped by erosion and deposition and examine how flooding can significantly impact human lives and settlements. 

Term 3 – Climate Change & Africa 

During Term 3, students study climate change by examining its causes, effects and possible responses. They explore how actions and attitudes in one part of the world can have global consequences. Students then develop a deeper understanding of Africa by studying both physical and human features, making links to previous learning and being introduced to key ideas such as desertification, which are explored further at GCSE. 

Term 1 – Development 

Students begin Year 9 by studying development and inequality. They learn how development is measured and explore why levels of development vary between countries. Students evaluate different strategies used to reduce the development gap, providing a strong foundation for later topics and supporting their understanding of complex global challenges. 

Term 2 – Ice on the Land & The Giants of Asia 

In Term 2, students study ice on the land, learning how glacial processes shape physical landscapes. This reinforces physical processes studied earlier in KS3 while introducing new concepts. Students then study the two giants of Asia, developing detailed place knowledge and identifying similarities and differences between countries. Previous learning is applied, including tectonic processes when studying mountain formation and globalisation when examining economic development. 

 Term 3 – Environmental Issues & Fieldwork 

In the final term of KS3, students explore environmental issues with a particular focus on waste and sustainability. They take part in a decision-making activity on waste incineration, which develops critical thinking and evaluation skills. Students also complete further on-site or virtual fieldwork, strengthening their ability to analyse data and draw conclusions. By the end of Year 9, students understand their place in the world, have strong knowledge of physical and human geographical processes, and are well prepared to continue Geography at GCSE level or apply their geographical understanding to everyday life. 

Term 1 – Resource Management & Physical Landscapes in the UK 

Students begin Year 10 by studying Resource Management, focusing on the importance of food, water and energy to social and economic wellbeing. They explore global inequalities in resource supply and consumption, UK resource issues, and the challenges of managing food, water and energy sustainably. This includes learning about changing demand, carbon footprints, food miles, energy insecurity and the future of sustainable resources, supported by real-world case studies. 

Alongside this, students begin Physical Landscapes in the UK, where they learn about the diversity and location of the UK’s landscapes. They study coastal processes such as weathering, erosion, transportation and deposition, and how these processes shape distinctive landforms. Human responses to coastal erosion are examined through the study of hard and soft engineering strategies, supported by a UK case study of the Holderness Coast.  

Term 2 – Rivers & Urban Issues and Challenges 

In Term 2, students study River Landscapes, learning how rivers change from source to mouth and how erosion, transportation and deposition shape river landforms. They explore features such as waterfalls, meanders, oxbow lakes and floodplains, using UK examples such as the River Clyde. Students also examine the causes of flooding and how flood risk can be managed through a range of strategies, supported by a UK flood case study. 

Students then move on to Urban Issues and Challenges, where they explore global patterns of urban change and the growth of cities across different levels of development. Case studies of Mumbai and Manchester help students understand the causes of urban growth, the opportunities cities provide, and the challenges they face. The topic concludes with a focus on urban sustainability, including how cities such as Freiburg, Copenhagen or Malmö are working towards more sustainable living. 

Term 3 – The Living World & Fieldwork 

In Term 3, students study The Living World, beginning with UK freshwater ecosystems and the relationships between living and non-living components. They then explore global ecosystems, focusing on tropical rainforests and hot deserts. Students learn about climate, soils, plants and animals, how these systems are interdependent, and how human activity threatens fragile environments. Case studies of the Amazon Rainforest and the Thar Desert support learning about deforestation, desertification and sustainable management. 

Students also complete GCSE fieldwork, including a physical geography investigation at Ainsdale Beach and a human geography investigation in Southport. These enquiries develop essential skills in data collection, analysis, evaluation and geographical decision-making. 

Term 1 – The Changing Economic World 

Students begin Year 11 by studying The Changing Economic World, where they explore how countries are classified according to wealth and development. They examine development indicators and their limitations, the Demographic Transition Model, and the causes and consequences of uneven development. Strategies to reduce the development gap are evaluated through real examples, including tourism in lower-income countries. 

A detailed case study of Nigeria helps students understand how development can change over time, focusing on industry, trade, aid, transnational corporations and environmental impacts. Students also study the UK economy, exploring economic growth, post-industrial change, regional inequalities and how the UK is linked to the wider world. 

 Term 2 – The Challenge of Natural Hazards 

In Term 2, students study The Challenge of Natural Hazards, beginning with tectonic hazards. They learn about plate tectonics, the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes, and why people live in hazardous areas. Case studies from both high-income and low-income countries help students understand causes, impacts and responses to tectonic hazards. 

Students then study weather and climate hazards, including tropical storms and extreme weather in the UK. They examine the causes, impacts and management of tropical storms using a case study of Typhoon Haiyan. The topic concludes with climate change, where students explore evidence for climate change, its causes, impacts on people and environments, and strategies for mitigation and adaptation. 

Term 3 – Revision, Exam Preparation & Paper 3 Skills 

In the final term, students focus on revision and examination preparation. They develop their geographical skills using pre-release materials for Paper 3, practise exam questions, and refine their ability to interpret data, maps and unfamiliar resources. Fieldwork knowledge is revisited to ensure students are confident in explaining and evaluating their investigations. This term ensures students are fully prepared for their GCSE Geography examinations. 

By the End of GCSE Geography 

By the end of Year 11, students will have a strong understanding of physical and human geographical processes, global challenges and environmental issues. They will be confident in using geographical skills, data and terminology, and able to think critically about how the world is changing. Students are well prepared for further study at A Level and equipped with valuable knowledge and skills that support informed decision-making in everyday life.