Geography is taught across KS3 and as an option at KS4.

Pupils in year 7, 8 and 9 are taught geography for 2 periods each week. These are usually double periods, although some classes do have 2 single periods. At GCSE, pupils are taught Geography for 3 periods each week.

Geography resources:

The department has a dedicated teaching area, which is equipped with many new resources. We use the "Key Geography" books across KS3, the titles used include-

* Key Geography - "Places"
* Key Geography - "Connections"
* Key Geography - "Interactions"
* Key Geography - "Foundations"

- These textbooks are written by Waugh and Bushell all these books are published by Nelson thorns

- Key stage 3 pupils also use the "Foundation Atlas" published by Collins Longman.

- Key stage 3 pupils also have a wide variety of videos. DVD's and O.S. maps.

- The department is equipped with two interactive white boards and projectors allowing immediate connection to the latest pictures and information on the Internet.This brings geography to life.

Topics studied at Key Stage 3

Year 7

- Making connections
- Population
- Earthquakes and volcanoes
- Primary industry
- Exploring England

Assessments in Year 7

- Why live in Harlow?
- McDonalds enquiry
- Volcanoes assessment
- Farming enquiry

Year 8

- Coastal environments
- Rivers and floods
- Italy - a case study of an MEDC
- Shopping
- Ecosystems and the environment

Assessments in Year 8

- Oil spills
- The impact of floods
- Italy - North and South
- Shopping enquiry
- Year 8 exam

Year 9

- Development
- Investigating Brazil
- Plate tectonics
- Comparing countries
- Tourism

Assessments in Year 9

- Trading game
- Cities in Brazil
- Year 9 exam
- The impact of volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis
- Tourism enquiry

Geography at Key Stage 4

There are currently 2 groups studying GCSE Geography in year 10 and a group of 27 pupils studying in year 11.

The GCSE syllabus taught in AQA syllabus 'A'. This consists of 3 main topics:

- People and the Natural Environment.
- People and the Human Environment.
- Coursework - one piece of 2500 words based on a fieldwork investigation at a local scale.

These main topics cover a variety of different Geographical ideas. These include looking at tectonic activity such as volcanoes and earthquakes. Pupils will also study coastal processes, glacial processes and landscapes. Human Geography topics include population, settlement, development and industry.

GCSE assessment.

The course is assessed according to the following criteria:

- Paper one - People and the natural environment 40% of total marks
- Paper two - People and the human environment 35% of total marks
- Coursework - Local study 25% of total marks.