Geography at Smithdon High School

How was this landscape formed, and how is it changing?

Why were these buildings constructed in this city?

Why are shops and businesses opening and closing?

In a landscape or a city, we are surrounded by Geography. The nation watched Blue Planet on BBC, which raised lots of issues and questions for the rest of the planet. Smithdon High School Geography department encourages students to ask these questions and more; to think about the future of the planet by being interested in Geography – not just because they study the subject. 

The staff delivering Geography are:-

Mr J. Yeoman - Head of Department

Mrs A. Birks - Teacher of Geography

West Norfolk is a brilliant place to study Geography with the coastline set within a changing rural landscape and the urban landscape of Kings Lynn 15 miles away. The area is under threat from climate change and plastic pollution.

Geography is all around us, a knowledge and understanding of the processes shaping the world is essential for all to ensure a sustainable future for planet Earth.

The Geography curriculum

At Smithdon High School we believe geography helps students make sense of the world and their place within it. Geography is a dynamic and academically rigorous subject that explores the relationships between people, places and environments across a range of spatial and temporal scales. It equips students with the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to interpret an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge is built progressively from Year 7 through to GCSE. Students revisit important geographical concepts in increasingly sophisticated contexts, allowing them to deepen their understanding over time. Core ideas such as place, space, scale, interdependence, sustainability, environmental change and globalisation are woven throughout the curriculum.

We aim to develop both substantive knowledge - the places, processes, concepts and geographical vocabulary - and disciplinary knowledge, enabling students to think, investigate and communicate like geographers. Students learn how geographical knowledge is created by asking questions, collecting and interpreting evidence, analysing patterns, evaluating different viewpoints and drawing reasoned conclusions.

Fieldwork forms an integral part of our curriculum. Through first-hand investigations, students apply classroom learning to real environments, developing practical enquiry skills and an appreciation of how geographical evidence is gathered and interpreted. Whether investigating coastal processes, river environments or urban change, students experience geography as an investigative discipline rather than simply a body of facts.

Maps and spatial thinking underpin learning at every key stage. Students become increasingly confident using atlases, Ordnance Survey maps, satellite imagery, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), graphs and a range of other geographical data sources to interpret patterns and explain relationships across different places and scales.

A strong emphasis is placed on disciplinary literacy. Students are explicitly taught the specialist vocabulary, reading strategies, writing techniques and communication skills used by professional geographers. They learn to construct well-supported explanations, evaluate evidence critically and justify conclusions using appropriate geographical terminology.

Our curriculum reflects the diversity and complexity of the modern world. Students explore a wide range of places and perspectives, recognising that geographical issues rarely have simple solutions. Contemporary challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, resource management, migration and natural hazards are studied through balanced enquiry, encouraging students to appreciate multiple viewpoints while developing informed and evidence-based opinions.

Assessment is used to support learning rather than simply measure performance. Teachers regularly identify misconceptions, revisit prior learning and provide opportunities for students to retrieve and apply knowledge in increasingly demanding contexts. This approach ensures that learning is retained over time and prepares students for success at GCSE and beyond.

Above all, we aim to inspire curiosity about the world. We want our students to leave Smithdon High School as confident, knowledgeable and responsible global citizens who can think critically, interpret evidence, appreciate the diversity of places and cultures, and make informed decisions about the geographical challenges facing society in the future.