The aims of the Geography Department

The general aims of the Geography department are to explore the environment around us and the processes that shape that environment. Students should gain an appreciation of the environment in which they live and the importance of citizenship and sustainable development at a variety of scales. It builds on pupils’ own experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global.

The broad, diverse nature of the discipline allows for a myriad of different issues, concepts and factual material to be taught, while developing a range of skills that will equip the Portland Place pupil for the challenges and opportunities of today’s society. Colleagues in the department share their enthusiasm for Geography and endeavour to foster and develop such interest among their pupils.

The department aims for all young people to become:

· Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve
· Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives
· Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society

The Ethos

The department considers a wide variety of geographical concepts and ideas that help to shape the ethos and underpin the purpose of the curriculum.

· a sense of awe and wonder
· the beauty, power and fragility of our world
· discovering the world
· travelling with a different view
· investigating the real, untidy world
· making sense of the complex and dynamically changing world
· exploring and developing our geographical identities
· understanding how economies, societies and environments are interconnected
· understanding our place within, and our influence on, global systems
· how people and their environment interact
· understanding the contemporary challenges facing our world
· recognizing the importance of the past, present and future
· living geography – an awareness of the relevance of geography to our everyday lives
· creating knowledgeable global citizens

Trips and Geography Days

The department believes that it is a vital component of teaching Geography to take pupils away from their normal environment and stimulate them with educational visits, trips and themed days. These will take a variety of forms, and will vary particularly according to the age of the pupils concerned.

Several events are being organised for this year. Please see the ‘Important dates in the Geography Calendar 2011/2012’ for further details.

Important Dates in Geography Calendar 2011/2012

What we Study

Year 6 Geography Outline for Students

Year 7 Geography Outline for Students

Year 8 Geography Outline for Students

Year 9 Geography Outline for Students

GCSE Geography Outline for Students

A level Geography Ouline for Students

Considering your future: Geography at GCSE, A Level,

University and Career Choices

The Russell Group of Universities view Geography as one of just 8 ‘facilitating subjects’ that they prefer students to have studied. Geography is considered to be a subject that helps prepare students for entry to university. So even if you are unsure as to what you would like to study at university, Geography would enable you to keep your options open.

Geography is a desirable subject for many careers. The understanding of geography is central to industry and the commercial sector has an increasing need to employ people who understand the interaction between environment and society.

There are many options and potential careers for geographers. Geography teaches students a wide-range of useful skills for the marketplace. Employers value the wide-ranging computer, research, and analytical skills that geography students bring to work as employees.

Most geography graduates are numerate, literate, good team workers, can think analytically and critically, and are highly computer literate. Geography consistently attracts large numbers of high quality students with excellent A level grades and a wide range of A levels often including at least one other science subject.

The nature of the discipline combined with the training geography students receive at university make graduate geographers employable. The most recent HESA survey of university graduates showed the unemployment rates for geographers to be among the lowest recorded, second only to law, psychology and sports science.

GCSE Booklet

A letter from Michael Palin

Going places with Geography

A level booklet

'Geographers in action'

Geography- Volcanoes 2012 (4 images)