Geography also provides students with tools for understanding and resolving environmental issues and sustainable development. Students learn to read maps, interpret local and global information, and understand international networks for trade and other things.

Key Stage 3

Pupils in Form 1 to 3 follow our own courses that are based on the UK National Curriculum but are adapted to meet the needs of our international student community. The courses cover physical geography topics which include: weather and climate; tectonic activity; coastal processes; and resources and the environment. In addition, human geography topics taught include: economic activity; urbanisation; international development; and world issues.

Key Stage 4

From 4 and 5 students will follow the IGCSE Edexcel Geography (9-1) specification. This course allows us to examine a number of exciting and contemporary topics with an opportunity to base lessons on real-world events as they happen. There is a focus on climate change and sustainability as well as an emphasis on the geographical skills that geographers need to progress to IAL Geography. Students complete fieldwork and will be required to answer questions on their investigations in the exams taken at the end of the course

Sixth Form

During the first year of sixth form students study two units of the IAL course: global challenges and geographical investigations. These are assessed through two external exams which are sat at the end of the Lower 6. The first unit is based on the causes, impacts and management of global challenges. The geographical investigations unit focuses on crowded coasts, as well as urban problems, planning and regeneration. Urban fieldwork is an important component of this unit and students will be required to answer questions on their investigations in the exams.

Students go on to study two more units of the IAL course during the second year of the sixth form: contested planet and researching geography. The first unit covers a range of contemporary topics: atmosphere and weather systems; biodiversity under threat; energy security; and bridging the development gap. The second unit, researching geography, is based on independent study on tectonic activity and hazards. Both of these units are assessed through two external exams at the end of the Upper 6.