About the Geography Department

At Northgate Geography is a lively, dynamic, interesting and fun subject which has immediate relevance to the issues facing us in the local area, country and world today, as well as giving our pupils a firm grounding in the roots of school geography - a knowledge of places and understanding of geographical themes.

Geography in the Lower School

Geography is taken by all pupils in the lower school and is taught in specially equipped rooms with specialist staff. Pupils can use a wide range of resources: modern text books covering all the National Curriculum requirements; appropriate worksheets, maps and photos; video and slides; fieldwork equipment and ICT work including use of the Internet and interactive whiteboards. Our teaching methods vary according to the topic and ability level of pupils: group discussions, investigations, project and fieldwork combine with more traditional teaching methods to give a suitable balance of approaches. Special resources are used for children with learning difficulties where classes are smaller to ensure pupils get the attention they need from the teacher. Often an extra support teacher is available. The most able children are stretched with appropriate extension materials. Careful monitoring of pupils through regular discussion and assessment enables staff to both get to know pupils and develop courses fitted to the ability of those pupils. Over the past few years we have expanded our lower school fieldwork - Year 7 take part in our cross-curricular environment day, Year 8 carry out local fieldwork at Gressenhall and Year 9 visit Hunstanton to investigate the impact of tourism on the resort. We are excited by the opportunities fieldwork gives.

GCSE Geography

This continues to be a very popular option. It is not surprising that many pupils decided to take Geography GCSE. The skills introduced in the lower school are built upon in preparing pupils for the AQA GCSE exam. The course focuses on the following:

•	Tectonics
•	Rivers and Coasts
•	Population and Settlement
•	Industry
•	Managing Resources

The theoretical content of each module is balanced by case studies taken from the developed and developing world, by the acquiring of geographical skills and by fieldwork. A field trip to the North Norfolk Coast is for many pupils a highlight of the course and the follow up coursework to the trip contributes 25% of the final GCSE grade.

Many pupils continue studying geography beyond Northgate at our Sixth Form and at University - and this is one of many indicators that the subject is seen as relevant and highly enjoyable.

The table below the page summarises the Geography course in the Lower School:

Year 7
•	What is Geography?
•	Exploring the UK
•	Weather and climate
•	Flooding
•	Settlement
Year 8
•	Coastal Landscapes
•	What is Development
•	Brazil
•	Amazon
•	Settlement
Year 9
•	Tourism
•	Restless Earth
•	Climate Change
•	Globalisation
•	Resources

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