Geography Department

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

Mr S. Chapman - Assistant Head

Mr A. Duncan - 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, students learn about key aspects of physical, human and environmental Geography at a variety of levels. The curriculum focuses on key geographical themes, including rivers, coasts, population and the economy, as well as developing a knowledge of places including the UK, Asia and Africa. Students develop and use a range of Geographical skills to include the use of maps, ICT, graphs and fieldwork.

Throughout their curriculum studies, students consider British Values, for example the role of democratically elected governments in determining the provision of coastal and river defences. Students are supported to develop moral and social values, providing them the skills and knowledge to make sensible, informed decisions about how their actions affect the future of the planet.

Key Stage 3 Geography

	Topic 1	Topic 2	Topic 3	Topic 4
Year 7	Map skills What are the major continents and oceans of the world? How can you use OS map skills to describe landforms?	Geography of the UK What is the UK like in terms of population, weather and landscapes? What have been the costs and benefits of the UK leaving the European Union?	Weather What factors explain the UK weather and climate? What are the causes and consequences of climate change?	Asia What is Asia like in terms of population, climate, biomes and landscapes? Why has China’s economy grown so rapidly?
Year 8	Coasts and Rivers How do physical processes and human activities affect coastal erosion at Happisburgh? Why is York so susceptible to river flooding?	Population Change What are the causes of changing populations around the world? What challenges does Japan face with its ageing population?	Tectonics What are the causes and consequences of tectonic activity? Why do the impacts of tectonic activity vary between countries?	Ecosystems and the Economy How and why has the economy of the UK changed in the last 100 years? What are the causes and consequences of deforestation in Borneo?
Year 9	Glaciation How do glacial processes create distinctive landscapes? How do glaciated areas create economic and social opportunities?	Superpowers What factors make China an emerging world superpower? Will the USA continue to be the prominent world superpower?	Africa What is Africa like in terms of population, history, climate, biomes and landscapes? What physical and human factors are responsible for desertification in the Sahel?	Fieldwork What determines traffic flows along the main road outside Smithdon High School? What is the best location for a new coffee shop in Hunstanton?

To view the KS3 Geography Learning Journey click here.

GCSE Geography

For Year 11 the department follows the EDEXCEL Geography A specification which has three written exams:

Unit 1: Physical Environment (37.5% of final exam)

1hr 45 mins exam

Unit 2: Human Environment (37.5% of final exam)

1hr 30 mins exam

Unit 3: Geographical Investigations: Fieldwork and UK Challenges (25% of final exam)

1hr 30 mins exam.

For more detail on the topics and content included in each examined unit, please click here.

In summary:

Year 10 topics

Topic 1	Topic 2	Topic 3	Topic 4	Topic 5
Changing landscapes of the UK	Coastal processes and landscapes	River processes and landscapes or Glaciated upland landscapes and processes	Weather hazards and climate change	Ecosystems, biodiversity and management

Year 11 topics

Topic 1	Topic 2	Topic 3	Topic 4
Changing cities	Global development	Resource management	UK Challenges

Fieldwork

GCSE students are required to complete two days of fieldwork which are examined within Unit 3. These are:

Investigating coastal landforms – fieldwork based on the North Norfolk Coast, carried out within the Autumn Term of Year 10.
Investigating urban environments – fieldwork based in the city of Norwich, carried out within the Summer Term of Year 10.

To view the GCSE Geography Learning Journey click here.

Year 10 starting GCSE Geography from September 2025, the Geography department will follow the AQA Geography A specification which has three written exams:

Unit 1: Living with the Physical Environment (35% of final grade)

1hr 30 mins exam

The challenge of natural hazards
The living world
Physical landscapes of the UK

Unit 2: Challenges in the Human environment (35% of final grade)

1hr 30 mins exam

Urban issues and challenges
The changing economic world
The challenge of resource management

Unit 3: Geographical applications (30% of final grade)

1hr 30 mins exam

Issue evaluation (pre-release sources released 12 weeks before the exam)

Compulsory Fieldwork in physical and human environments

Geographical skills are taught throughout each unit

SUPPORTING TRIPS AND ACTIVITIES

Fieldwork day visits to collect data:

Physical Environment - Investigating coastal processes
Human Environment - Investigating geographical processes in a human environment

AQA GCSE GEOGRAPHY WEBSITE

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/geography/gcse/geography-8035

Geography Key Stage 3 Curriculum Topics

	Autumn Term 1	Autumn Term 2	Spring Term 1	Spring Term 2	Summer Term 1	Summer Term 2
Year 7	Map Skills	Geography of the UK	Geography of the UK and weather	Weather	Asia	Resources
Year 8	Coasts and Rivers	Coasts and Rivers	Population Change	Tectonics	Ecosystems and the Economy	Russia
Year 9	Glaciation	Super Powers	Super Powers	Africa	Fieldwork	Living in a poor country and Global Themes

Geography Key Stage 4 Curriculum Topics

Autumn
Term 1

Autumn
Term 2

Spring
Term 1

Spring
Term 2

Summer
Term 1

Summer
Term 2

Year
10

Physical Environment

Changing Landscapes of the UK and Coasts

Geographical Investigations

Coastal Fieldwork

Physical Environment

Rivers or Glaciers

Physical Environment

Weather Hazards and Climate Change

Physical Environment

Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management

Geographical Investigations

Urban Fieldwork

Year
11

Human Environment

Changing Cities

Human Environment

Global Development

Human Environment

Resource Management

Geographical Investigations

UK Challenges

Revision

N/A

Geography Key Stage 4 Curriculum Topics (from September 2025)

Autumn
Term 1

Autumn
Term 2

Spring
Term 1

Spring
Term 2

Summer
Term 1

Summer
Term 2

Year
10

The challenge of natural hazards

Living world

Living World

Physical landscapes of the UK

Resource Management

Physical & Human fieldwork

Issue evaluation practise

Year
11

Urban issues and challenges

Changing economic world

Urban issues and challenges

Changing economic world

Issue evaluation preparation

Revision & exam practice

Issue evaluation preparation

Revision & exam practice

N/A