Geography
Geography is concerned with discovering the world we live in. It’s about understanding the way we as individuals and as societies interact with the world and with each other.
Students learn about Human and Physical Geography, creating a platform that enables them to understand the major environmental, political, cultural and socio-economic issues facing the world today.
Curriculum
Years 7 to 9 enjoy a wide range of learning experiences on subjects ranging from physical geography such as urban landscapes, floods, and mountains, to societal issues such as fair trade, uneven development, and new superpowers. Teachers bring the subject alive through a variety of visual and interactive teaching resources.
Years 10 and 11 follow the Edexcel (I)GCSE course. This course combines a broad knowledge of key concepts with applied management and field skills for working in the human and physical environment.
Years 12 and 13 may study Geography at A Level or as part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Advanced Geography is taught in the form of core subjects and optional units. Applied Geographical Skills are a required part of the course, involving Fieldwork Methodology and Integrated Geographical Skills.
Geography bridges the gap between the Humanities and the Sciences. The IB course involves the study of systematic aspects of both Human and Physical Geography, creating a platform for considering the major environmental, political, cultural, and socio-economic issues facing the world today
Fieldwork Programme
Fieldwork is essential to the subject and students make their first field trip at the age of 13. Fieldwork enables the development of practical skills and brings abstract concepts alive. Students are actively encouraged to explore the physical environment, to work within a team, and to develop independent study skills.
Year 7 - The River Dijle Study
Students walk 5km along this local river from Korbeek Diile to the historical city of Leuven, observing processes within the river and studying the flood plain as well investigating the Management of the River Dijle.
Year 8 - De Haan Coastal Study and Earth Explorer
Students visit a small tourist resort on the Belgian coast, investigate the land use and environmental quality of the resort. They visit the Earth Explorer Museum offering the opportunity to explore the physical world through interactive instruments and simulators.
Year 10 - Barcelona
Students must have fieldwork experience directly related to the (I)GCSE syllabus. We fulfil this requirement by taking students on a week-long trip to the Barcelona Region of Spain. Students complete fieldwork on a variety of topics including urban studies, rivers, coasts, geology and tourism.
Year 12 - Belgium Ardennes and Brussels
For the IB course, students must write up a piece of coursework on either a physical or human topic, A Level students need experience of both a physical and human fieldwork for assessment at the end of Year 12. We conduct fieldwork on the River Lesse in the Belgian Ardennes and investigate the urban characteristics of two contrasting communes in Brussels.
Post-16 - Extended Field Trip – Morocco
Every second year we take both Years 12 and 13 IB and A Level Geography students on an extended field trip. We currently visit Morocco and spend time in three distinctively different environments. Marrakech, the High Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. The field trip offers students a unique insight into the physical and human environment of a developing country.