OVERVIEW
Geography opens your eyes to the world and allows you to respect other cultures and religions, whilst marvelling in the genius of the world’s mechanics. The aim of the Geography Department is to help young people make sense of the world around them and to introduce students to the ‘big issues’ facing us today. This enables them to have informed opinions in a rapidly changing world.
Students are encouraged to become involved in their dynamic environment by the study of the physical landscape (rocks, landforms, weather, climate and ecosystems), as well as the use that people make of their surroundings by building settlements, earning their livelihoods and the contrasts between different countries at different levels of development. Process is important too, as pupils learn to understand what, or who, is responsible for change in the human and physical landscape and explore inter-relationships.Â
In a rapidly changing and increasingly fragile world, the Geography Department will prepare students to make informed decisions on issues such as:
- Environmental responsibility
- Increasing global interdependence
- Cultural understanding and tolerance
- The globalisation of commerce, trade and industry
- Development and underdevelopment
At every level, there is a focus on skill development, such as map reading and IT; at the same time, pupils are strongly encouraged in the skills of decision-making and problem solving. Many examples from the local area, the British Isles, Europe and the rest of the world are used to highlight these varied topics.