Why do we learn geography?
Our broad and balanced curriculum challenges all students to realise their potential during their five-year journey at Ark Acton. It is underpinned by the firm belief that all students can be highly successful and can master the content and skills of each subject they study, whilst developing their long-term memory. A high-quality geography curriculum will develop pupils’ understanding of how their lives are both shaped by and have an impact on the environments they inhabit. Teachers of geography at Ark Acton are responsible for encouraging the inquisitiveness and excitement about the world by introducing domains such as people, places, processes and resources.
Head of Department
Danielle Quinn
Our approach
Throughout Key Stages 3 and 4, a broad and rich Geography curriculum has been designed to develop geographical knowledge and understanding through the study of a range of topics, incorporating Physical and Human Geography. Key geographical skills (including mathematical, cartographic, investigative and problem-solving skills) are encountered right from the beginning on Year 7; students will have the opportunity to develop and refine these skills during Key Stages 3 and 4 – and will be able to apply them to different familiar and unfamiliar contexts.
Subject Areas
- Location
- Space
- Place
- Human Processes
- Physical Processes
- Sustainability
- Culture and Diversity
Key Concepts
- Maps and Fieldwork Skills
- Tectonic Hazards
- Hydro-Meteorological Hazards
- Climate and Change
- Extreme Environments
- Biomes and Biodiversity
- Coastal Processes
- River Processes
- Globalisation
- Development
- Population
- Urbanisation and Growth
- Natural Resources
- Energy Provision
Year 7
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
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Why can the Earth be described as dynamic? |
How can geophysical processes impact populations? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
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Why does the population of countries change over time? |
Does the growth of a city always brings positive results? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
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Why does the UK experience different weather conditions? |
Why do our coastlines need to be protected? |
All Year 7 subjects Next Year 7 Subject - Religious Education
Year 8
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Why are some countries richer than others? |
How can we reduce the gap between rich and poor countries? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
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How and why are Tropical Rainforests so diverse? |
Why is it important to protect our tropical rainforests? |
| Summer | |
|---|---|
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How can I use invesitgations to further my geographical knowledge? |
Why is it important to invesitgate and enquire in geography? |
All Year 8 subjects Next Year 8 Subject - Religious Education
Year 9
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Where does our energy and electricity come from? |
What are the local and global impacts of us using energy? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
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What are rivers and how are they created? |
How do rivers have an impact on humans? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
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What is the coast and how does it change? |
How does Climate change create risk to the coast and humans that live there? |
All Year 9 subjects Next Year 9 Subject - Religious Education
Year 10
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
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Explain why natural hazards can impact people, property and the environment? |
Assess how levels of development influence the severity of damage caused by a hazard? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
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How is the growth of cities world wide impacting on the social, economic and environmental quality for residents? |
What impact can regeneration have on an area? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
Why are our coastlines dynamic? |
Why do natural and human activities can affect the climate of the Earth over time? |
All Year 10 subjects Next Year 10 Subject - Religious Education
Year 11
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Why does the quality of life vary from country to country? |
Explain how UK regions have been affected by the surge in tertiary and quanternary jobs. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
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Why are the world's biomes seen as fragile? |
Revision |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| External exams | External exams |
All Year 11 subjects Next Year 11 Subject - Religious Education
Year 12
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
How do natural hazards impact humans? How do we live with natural hazards? |
How and why do places vary? Why might regeneration be needed? How is regeneration managed? How successful is regeneration? |
| Spring | |
|---|---|
|
What are the causes of globalisation and why is it so unequal?
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To what extent do TNCs impact upon the location of manufacturing and what impact does this have? What are the consequences of globalisation? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
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Why are coastal landscapes different and what processes caused these differences? |
How do coastal erosion and sea level change alter coast lines? How can coastlines be managed? |
Year 13
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
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What are superpowers and how have they changed over time? How do superpowers exert authority over others by hard and soft techniques? What are the impacts of superpowers on the global economy, political systems and physical environment? What are the spheres of influences and how does this lead to conflict? |
What factors influence the hydrological system over time and on different scales? How will water insecurity impact humans in the 21st century? |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
How does the carbon cycle maintain planetary health? |
What are the consequences of our increasing demand for energy? |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| External exams | External exams |