Geography
At The Derby High School, the Geography curriculum inspires curiosity and deepens students’ understanding of the world they inhabit. Through engaging and challenging lessons, students explore the relationships between people, places, and environments, and recognise the vital role they play in shaping a sustainable future.
Our curriculum builds awareness of local, national, and global issues — developing empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility for our shared planet. Students are encouraged to value the diversity of human and physical landscapes while developing transferable skills in enquiry, analysis, and decision-making.
RESILIENCE Framework
R – Real World
E – Engaging & Enriching
S – Skills for Life
I – Inclusive
L – Leadership
I – Independence
E – Encourages Reflection
N – Next Steps
C – Challenge
E – Ethics & Empathy
KS2 National Curriculum Links
By the end of Key Stage 2, students should have developed:
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Locational Knowledge: Understanding of the world’s countries, continents, and major cities.
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Place Knowledge: Comparative understanding of regions of the UK and the wider world.
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Human and Physical Geography: Knowledge of key processes shaping landscapes, weather, and environments.
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Geographical Skills and Fieldwork: Ability to interpret maps, data, and conduct basic geographical enquiries.
These skills form the foundation for deeper analytical and evaluative learning at Key Stages 3 and 4.
Curriculum Overview
Year 7
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Where are we? – Geographical skills and world geography.
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Who Wants to Be a Billionaire? – Global and local development and inequality.
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What Shapes the World? – Geographical processes shaping the physical landscape.
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What Is Weather? – Features of weather and how it is measured in the UK.
Year 8
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How Is Asia Being Transformed? – Development in India and China; global comparison.
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Is Everywhere the Same? – Ecosystems and biomes, focusing on deserts and tropical rainforests.
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Where Do We Live? – Population distribution and migration studies.
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Are We Flood Ready? – Causes, effects, and responses to fluvial, coastal, and glacial flooding.
Year 9
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Is the Geography of Russia a Curse? – Human and physical geography of Russia.
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Is Africa All the Same? – Case study of Africa’s diverse landscapes and economies.
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What Is the Future of Climate? – The science and impact of climate change.
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Are We Risk Ready? – How people cope with climatic and tectonic risks worldwide.
Years 10–11 (GCSE Geography)
AQA GCSE Geography
Paper 1 – Physical Geography
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Natural Hazards (tectonic and weather)
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Climate Change and Global Impacts
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The Living World – Amazon Rainforest and Mojave Desert
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Physical Landscapes in the UK – Fluvial and Coastal Landforms
Paper 2 – Human Geography
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Urban Issues and Challenges – Rio de Janeiro and Manchester case studies
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The Changing Economic World – Nigeria and the UK
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The Challenge of Resource Management – Food, Water, and Energy
Paper 3 – Geographical Applications
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Issue Evaluation
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Skills and Fieldwork
Fieldwork Opportunities
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Human Fieldwork: Urban regeneration study at Salford Quays.
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Physical Fieldwork: River study in the Lake District.
Revision & Exams:
Comprehensive preparation for final GCSE examinations (Papers 1–3).
Post-16 Pathways (KS5)
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Water and Carbon Cycles
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Hot Desert and Coastal Landscapes
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Glacial Landscapes
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Natural Hazards
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Ecosystems Under Stress
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Global Governance and Changing Places
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Population and Environment
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Resource Security
Careers in Geography
Geologist
Meteorologist
Architect
Lawyer
Town Planner
Teacher
Environmental Consultant
Public Services
How you can help your child in Key Stage Three:
- Watch the news regularly and discuss the causes and effects of global issues.
- Encourage them to talk about what they have learnt after each lesson – you might want to ask for their book to start the conversation.
- Visit local areas of interest and discuss why that place is like it is – e.g. Burrs Park and the River Irwell.
- Ensure they have an atlas to refer to and support them to investigate where places are in relation to each other.
- Listen to the National Geographic Kids Podcast.
- Encourage them to complete the activities in the Academic Booklet for each unit.
How you can help your child in Key Stage Four (AQA):
- Use the knowledge organisers to stimulate discussion about a specific topic and encourage them to talk about it using technical vocabulary.
- Support them in creating five flashcards each week about their learning with a question on one side and the response on the other (this could be a simple definition, a longer answer, or a diagram).
- Buy them a revision guide (available from the school library) and use it to quiz them on topics they have studied already.
- Use the YouTube channel ‘Time for Geography’ to watch short videos about physical geography and then discuss these together.
