Holmes Chapel
6th Form College
Our Curriculum
Geography
Intent:
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To ensure that students can live and breathe the world around them and understand how what they are doing is impacting on the world.
We believe that students deserve a broad, progressive and ambitious Geography curriculum, rich in skills and knowledge. A curriculum that stimulates curiosity and a wonder of their world and prepares them well for their future.
The Geography curriculum is designed to give all students the confidence and experience to help inform and shape ideas; investigating human and physical strands of the multi-faceted subject. This will enable students to become global citizens and have the cultural literacy to be role models for the future and set a trail for others to emulate.
At the heart of the Geography Department’s approach is the idea that students should not only be informed about the world they live in but also be inspired to engage with it. The curriculum fosters a sense of wonder about the natural world and promotes an understanding of its complexity and diversity alongside cultural capital. It encourages students to broaden their knowledge of global cultures, helping them to develop​

Curriculum Implementation and Impact
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The Geography Department delivers the curriculum through well-structured, shared, and explicit programmes of study that align with our department's vision. Every lesson is thoughtfully planned, ensuring that both in-class resources and electronic materials are readily available for students, including for remote learning. Adaptive teaching strategies challenge students at all levels, ensuring that all learners, regardless of ability, are appropriately supported and stretched.
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Our curriculum is continually evolving to reflect the fast-paced changes in our world, allowing students to engage with current global issues and relate their learning to real-life applications. To ensure the highest standards of teaching and learning, the quality of lesson delivery, teaching methods, and assessments is closely monitored through a comprehensive scrutiny process. Student progress is tracked using a combination of interim assessments, mock exams, and regular evaluations, with data informing targeted support and intervention.
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At Key Stage 3 (KS3), the curriculum introduces students to the three main strands of Geography: physical, environmental, and human geography, and emphasises their interdependence. The curriculum aims to lay a strong foundation for students to become active global citizens.The curriculum is knowledge-driven, incorporating memory retrieval practices and connecting individual lessons to broader schemes of learning. This approach ensures students build a solid foundation of geographical knowledge, preparing them for success at GCSE level. For those pursuing further studies, opportunities are available to choose AQA Geography at GCSE, and passionate students may also opt to continue their geographical education at A-Level.
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The KS3 curriculum is designed not only to cover key geographical knowledge but also to cultivate the skills needed for geographical inquiry and analysis. By developing skills such as synopticity (the ability to integrate and apply knowledge across various topics) and decision-making, students will be well-prepared to tackle geographical challenges at Key Stage 4 (KS4) and beyond. Geographical skills are embedded within units of work throughout all key stages. Students will develop their cartographic, graphical, ICT and GIS skills. Fieldwork enquiries enable students to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding within both human and physical Geography. This foundation will ensure students are ready to engage with the more advanced content and challenges presented at GCSE, A-Level, and beyond, while also strengthening their ability to make informed, thoughtful decisions across their academic journey and in their role as global citizens.
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Geography bridges the curriculum from the physical process in Science, creativity in English to the quantitative skills of Mathematics. Students are able to use these connections to excel in the wider world. We want students to be Global citizens- so that if they do not take GCSE we have equipped them with skills and knowledge for the world they currently live in.

Key Stage 3 Geography Overview
Assessment Overview
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Recall every lesson
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Peer assessment and live marking of tasks in class
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End of topic assessment - including accumulated Knowledge, Understanding and critical analysis
Homework Overview
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2 or 3 homeworks per unit specific to knowledge and understanding
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Revision from Knowledge Organiser every lesson 5 minutes per week
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Homework to be reviewed in the following lesson
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Homework set should take no more than 30 minutes to complete other than for revision for end of topic assessment