Welcome to Geography
With the growing importance of issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation, spatial epidemiology and inequalities, geography is one of the most relevant courses you could choose to study. The Geography department at Ferndown Upper School is committed to providing a high quality geographical education to ensure our students are prepared for roles as active citizens in a rapidly changing world.
Meet The Geography Department Staff

Mrs. C. Lock
Geography Teacher

Mrs. J. Taylor
Geography Teacher
Curriculum Content of each academic year
Year 9 | |
Course | Content |
KS3 National Curriculum | Term 1 – Natural Hazards Term 2 – Economic World Term 3 – Global Population Change and Pressure |
How its assessed: | 2 GCSE assessments |
Year 10 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Term 1 – River Landscapes in the UK Term 2 – The Living World Term 3 – The Changing Economic World | |
How its assessed: | Interim and end of topic tests. Year 10 Mock Paper 1 – Living with the Physical Environment |
Year 11 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content Term 1 – The Changing Economic World Term 2 – Revision Term 3 – Revision |
How its assessed: | 2 Mock Papers – Autumn Term Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment Spring Term Paper 2 Challenges in the Human Environment External Assessments; Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment 35% Paper 2 Challenges in the Human Environment 35% Paper 3 Geographical Applications 30% |
Year 12 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Ed Excel | Globalisation Coastal Landscapes and Change Diverse Places Tectonic Processes and Hazards Superpowers |
How its assessed: | A Level End of topic Assessments Year 12 Continuation Exam covering year 12 topics |
Year 13 | |
Course/ Exam Board | Content |
Superpowers The Water Cycle and Water Insecurity The Carbon Cycle and Energy Security Migration Identity and Sovereignty | |
How its assessed: | External Assessments Paper 1 – Physical (30%) Paper 2 – Human (30%) Paper 3 – Synoptic Assessment (20%) Non Examination Assessment- Independent Investigation (20%) |
Facilites / Equipment
Google Expeditions – VR headsets, OS Maps, GIS, Fieldwork equipment.
Extra-curricular
Fieldwork day 1
Southampton city centre
How does the geography of Southampton’s waterfront offer economic and social opportunities?
Fieldwork day 2
Lulworth Cove
What type of waves occur at Lulworth Cove?
How do they affect its coastline?
Revision
All students are provided with detailed knowledge organisers in year 11.
Recommended revision guides:
GCP NEW GCSE 9-1 Geography AQA Revision Guide
Product code: GAR45
ISBN: 9781782946106
Careers In Geography
As a geography student, you will have gained a set of superior skills highly valued by employers. You will also have developed a range of soft skills imperative for the 21st century renaissance worker. Geography is a bridging subject and is an excellent lunch pad to a range of careers including Law, Engineering, Computer Science & Physical Sciences. However, if you are passionate about geography you may wish to explore career opportunities in an area more directly related to geography such as Natural Hazard Analyst, Geomorphologist, Geospatial Advisor, Flood Risk & GIS Analyst, Sustainability Consultant, Transport Planning Consultant, Landscape architect or Cartographer.
Labour Market Information – LMI
It is really useful to look at the labour market when considering a career related to geography. Many sectors related to geography are areas of growth in terms of employment opportunities. For example Boris Johnson recently announced a 10 point plan to boost the green economy which geography is an integral part of. The plan promises 250,000 jobs and emphasises a “green industrial revolution” to stimulate a post pandemic economic recovery.
Pathways Example Post 16 Routes – Level 3 A Level
- A-Level Geography, Government and Politics, Economics, Environmental Science, Maths, Biology, Chemistry
Pathways Example Post 16 – Apprenticeship Ideas
PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANT
- Specialising in environmental claims in relation to contaminated land such as oil spills, groundwater and surface water pollution. You might split your time between undertaking field work to assess and the writing of reports in relation to such works.
GIS CONSULTANT
- Geographic information systems (GIS)consultants are responsible for managing digital mapping data and performing analyses to answer geographical questions. The key focus for many GIS consultants is making maps for clients, deduced from analytical data. Your work can be used in a variety of fields.
CLIMATE CHANGE CONSULTANT
- A climate change consultant is responsible for providing advice and research to the government. Specifically you may help policy makers contemplate scenarios they may have to confront in the next 40 years.