Geography is a living, breathing subject, constantly adapting itself to change. It is dynamic and relevant. For me, geography is a great adventure with a purpose.”
– Michael Palin
Geography
Our geography curriculum provides pupils with an introduction to the essential geographical knowledge that they need to be educated citizens. It introduces students to the best that has been thought and said; and helps engender an appreciation of human creativity and achievement.
Miss J McNulty
Head of Geography
Our geography curriculum is carefully designed and delivered to:
- inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives” (OPENING HEARTS through inspiration)
- equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. (OPENING MINDS to new knowledge)
- deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments (OPENING MINDS to deeper understanding)
- further develop geographical disciplines including data analysis, source interpretation and the effective communication of geographical information (OPENING DOORS through the application of developing scholarly disciplines)
Year 7, 8 and 9 Curriculum Content
Our Key Stage 3 geography curriculum honours the breadth and ambition of the geography national curriculum for Key Stage 3. It develops both subject knowledge and trains students in the disciplines associated with geography.
| Year 7 | Understanding the world around us |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Unit 1: What makes Liverpool a great place? |
| Spring | Unit 2: What is the weather and climate like around the world? |
| Summer | Unit 3: What features make up The UK’s landscape? |
Year 7 Geography Curriculum Map
| Year 8 | How is the world changing? |
|---|---|
| Autumn | How is our climate changing? |
| Spring | How are urban areas developing? |
| Summer | How are ecosystems changing? |
Year 8 Geography Curriculum Map
| Year 9 | What does the future hold? |
|---|---|
| Autumn | Will it ever be safe to live near plate boundaries? |
| Spring | Will population growth ever slow down? |
| Summer | Will there be enough resources for everybody? |
Year 9 Geography Curriculum Map
At GCSE, each unit selected allows students to develop their knowledge clearly.
| Year 10 | Unit/Topic |
|---|---|
| Autumn HT1 | Tectonic Hazards - Understand the formation and tectonic hazards and why risk differs around the world. |
| Autumn HT2 | Climate Change - Understand the natural and human causes of climate change and evidence of past and future change. |
| Spring HT1 | Ecosystems - Understand the abiotic and biotic characteristics of hot deserts and the challenges and opportunities to development in these regions. |
| Spring HT2 | Rivers - Understand the features of rivers relating to river processes from source to mouth and flooding |
| Spring HT2 | Coasts - Understand the coastal processes that lead to changes in the landscape, linking to landforms and management. |
| Summer HT1 | Resource Management (Food) - Understand the global inequalities of resources; changes in demand and sustainable strategies to tackle issues related to food shortages. |
| Summer HT2 | Fieldwork and Geographical Investigation |
Year 10 Geography Curriculum Map
| Year 11 | Unit/Topic |
|---|---|
| Autumn HT1 | Urban Issues and Challenges - Understand the development gap and its indicators, in addition to ways it can be reduced around the world and in a UK setting. |
| Autumn HT2 | Changing Economic World - Understand the development gap and its indicators, in addition to ways it can be reduced around the world and in a UK setting. |
| Spring HT1 | Resource Management (Food) - Understand the global inequalities of resources; changes in demand and sustainable strategies to tackle issues related to food shortages |
| Spring HT2 | Understand the pre-release booklet and its geographical issues associated |
| Summer HT1 | Revision |
| Summer HT2 | Revision |
Year 11 Geography Curriculum Map
Sixth Form Curriculum Content
Key Stage 4 Geography students follow the AQA GCSE Geography specification and BTEC Travel and Tourism. For further details, please follow the link below.
Download Full GCSE Geography specification
Download Full BTEC Travel and Tourism specification
Key Stage 5 geography students follow the AQA Geography A Level or BTEC Level 3 Travel and Tourism specification. For further details, please follow the link below.
Please click on the logos below to visit Geography-specific materials and resources.
- BBC Bitesize KS3:
- BBC Bitesize KS4:
- Oak National Academy:
Please click on the First Careers logo to visit their website.
A Student’s View
Studying geography has opened my eyes to the world around me and really made me think about the impact my generation can have on the future of our planet. I studied GCSE and A-Level Geography at Notre Dame and went on to study Geography at the University of Liverpool. I enjoyed it so much I have recently returned to Notre Dame as a Geography Teacher!
Miss Allen
