Geography

Decisions, decisions.

Year 7 have been developing their decision-making and fieldwork enquiry skills while investigating where would be the best place to locate a cinema in Chard. Students visited the recommended sites and carried out surveys, asking questionnaires and then had to make their own decision based on the evidence. Thanks to family and friends who helped Year 7 by completing their questionnaires.

All change down on the farm

Year 8 students have been putting forward ideas to diversify a struggling sheep farm in Scotland. The students also had to consider the impacts on people and the environment of these changes. Many excellent and imaginative plans were drawn up; some including recommendations on pricing, target groups and even health and safety issues! So, if you have a patch of farmland which you are not making the best use of; try seeking out your local Year 8 countryside diversification advisor!

Tourism: Good or Bad?

At this time of year many of us are booking our summer holidays and looking forward to them. But how many of us stop to think about the impacts of these holidays? Students in Year 9 are currently examining the issues surrounding tourism, looking at the effects on destinations across the globe.

GCSE

Year 10 students have made an excellent start to their GCSE Geography course. They have completed their work on population and settlement and had their first attempts at a GCSE question in exam conditions. Some excellent grades were achieved.

Students in Year 11 took their first real Geography GCSE exam in late January. The Decision-Making Exercise paper this year was on the issue of building new settlements in rural areas. This is currently a hot topic around Chard.

Teachers were really encouraged by the enthusiasm and focus in which students approached the paper. It was great that over 50 students attended the extra revision class. These classes can make a big difference and I hope to see just as many come to the GCSE revision classes which will run after-hours from April onwards in preparation for the final paper in June. It would be great to see more new faces too!

A Level

This year record numbers of Year 13 students have applied to study Geography at university; and it is great to hear that they are getting plenty of offers of places. Well done!

Mrs Hough and I are currently planning an action packed Sixth Form Geography tour in October. This year we will be going to Iceland and we are hoping that lots of geographers and other Sixth Form students will be able to take part in this exciting opportunity.  

Y9 Options: