Geography

Geography is about understanding the world around us; the countries, landscapes, cultures and climates. Geography at QE
aims to inspire students to learn about the world they inhabit through a
variety of geographical issues.

Year 7

In year 7, students embark on a virtual world tour to explore eight different regions. Each region introduces students to some of the most challenging issues facing the world and allows them to develop key geographical skills such as reading maps, understanding sources and graph drawing.

Other units of study during the year include the endangered ecosystems of the rainforests and an investigation into how and why crime is linked to geography.

Year 8

Understanding the world population explosion starts the year 8 units of work. Making sense of our landscape through the study of coasts and rivers allows the students to see how natural processes shape the UK. This is groundwork for a one day fieldtrip to a local river in Shropshire during the summer term where students will have the chance to study a river’s in action.

Year 9

As students approach the end of Key Stage 3, they develop their debating and writing skills through some of the most challenging moral questions of our world today: Is the world system of trade fair? If the UK is wealthy, why are one billion people living on less than $1 per day? Through game simulations, internet research and lively debates, students explore why the answers to these questions are never straightforward.

The 1994 genocide in Rwanda provides another event that brings into focus difficult questions of the role of the UK in the world. Should the government have intervened to stop the killings? Using the film, Hotel Rwanda, we examine the geographical and historical factors behind the crisis and trace the difficult aftermath of 1 million migrants finding a safe place to live.

Year 9 also allows us to explore issues of tourism and the impact that this is having on the environment. Building on a fieldtrip to investigate the impact that tourism has on an area, students finish key stage 3 geography with a solid grounding of the impact of people on the environment.

GCSE Geography

Students can opt to study geography at GCSE and explore in greater depth the issues from Years 7-9. World issues come into focus here including: climate change, migration, inner city problems, coastal erosion and fair trade. It is a highly prized academic subject that deepens knowledge of the world as well as strengthening skills in English, maths and ICT.

AQA syllabus A is the syllabus of study at QE. Students will develop essential skills such as problem solving, decision making, synthesising ideas, identifying issues and communicating findings through the undertaking of a fieldwork investigation, individually and as part of a team.

Geography Fieldwork at QE

Our magnificent site overlooking the Golden Valley towards the Malvern Hills provides many fieldwork opportunities on site including ecosystem studies, tourist development impacts and understanding maps.

Further afield, trips to Abergavenny to study urban design, The ‘Big Pit’ National Coal Mining Museum, Ludlow, Oxford, Worcester, and a residential trip to the Welsh Coast for year 10.

BTEC Travel and Tourism

At Key Stage 4, some students study Travel and Tourism as a vocational alternative to the GCSE option.

The course covers both inbound and outbound tourism, and offers opportunities in many diverse areas, including airport operations and tour guiding. The BTEC Level 2 First Certificate is designed to introduce learners to working in the sector or prepare them for further study, such as a BTEC National qualification or an appropriate NVQ.