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Geography

Departmental approach to the curriculum

Geography at Rickmansworth aims to equip students with a breadth of understanding and detailed knowledge of both human and physical environments. Geography can be seen all around us. Keeping abreast of current affairs of a social, economic, environmental and political nature is core to being a great geographer.

All students entering Ricky develop the geographical skills that allow them to think critically about real world decisions and are highly sought after by top universities and employers. Geography is one of the top facilitating subjects sought by Russell group universities including Oxford and Cambridge. Every year we have students who gain places at these institutions to read geography or earth sciences.

Fieldwork is an important part of ‘real world’ geography, as such we continue to develop a range of opportunities for our students to travel and experience geography first hand in many places around the UK and the world. These trips are hugely popular, and help inspire students as well as reinforce the relevance of geography to understanding the world around them.

Our approach to the curriculum is built upon the concepts and places outlined in the National Curriculum. In Years 7 to 9, students therefore follow a varied and dynamic syllabus which deepens their knowledge and understanding of the world around whilst developing their critical thinking skills and fostering a love of learning. The progress made in these years allows students to achieve very well at GCSE Geography and beyond.

At GCSE, we follow the AQA specification. This course comprises three papers: human, physical and a geographical skills paper. The course contains two days of compulsory fieldwork to London and Epping Forest.

At A Level, we continue to follow the AQA specification. As part of the course there is a week-long residential trip where students develop fieldwork skills that enable them to complete a geographical research project of their own interest. This forms their Non-Examined Assessment (NEA). All examinations are taken in Year 13.

Year 7

In Year 7, students embark on their geographical journey by exploring "What is geography?" through the Fascinating Places topic, investigating world maps and map projections in map skills, and studying the physical forces that shape Earth in Physical Landscapes. They learn about weathering, glacier processes, and local geological history via the Rickmansworth School Erratic enquiry, alongside map skills and compass-based fieldwork on the school site.

The curriculum also introduces human and environmental dynamics through Global Populations and Natural Hazards. Students investigate global migration trends, London's liveability, and local ethnic diversity using virtual fieldwork of Watford High Street, while also analysing tectonic forces, plate boundaries, and hazard management through case studies like the Montserrat volcanic eruption and the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Year 8

Year 8 geography focuses on global connections, local fieldwork and pressing planetary challenges. In Development and The Global Economy, students examine global inequality, deindustrialisation, globalisation and ethical supply chains through the lens of the Aral Sea and the Rana Plaza disaster. This is accompanied by Urbanisation, where students contrast urban living and self-help schemes in megacities like Manila and Rio de Janeiro with local areas like Croxley Green.

Students also develop practical scientific skills through the Weather and Climate and Microclimates enquiries, conducting hands-on fieldwork on the Rickmansworth School site to investigate localised heat islands and weather patterns. The year concludes with a study of Global Issues, covering resource geopolitics, plastic pollution, and climate refugees, culminating in a Prisoners of Geography group research project where students explore how physical landscapes help or hinder national development.

Year 9

In Year 9, students deepen their physical understanding of natural systems and engage in rich regional studies. They explore coastal erosion and deposition processes through the Coasts enquiry, focusing on Devon and Chesil Beach, and investigate global biomes, rainforest biodiversity and indigenous sustainability in Biomes and Ecosystems.

The curriculum then transitions into expansive continental studies focusing on Asia, Africa, and West Asia (The Middle East). Students challenge stereotypes and analyse critical geopolitical, environmental, and demographic themes, including:

China's former One-Child Policy and Japan's ageing population.
African-led climate solutions (the Great Green Wall) and transboundary water diplomacy on the River Nile.
Oil transport chokepoints and rapid urban sustainability initiatives in Dubai.

Year 10 and 11

Year 10 marks the start of the GCSE curriculum, focusing on core components of Paper 1 (Physical) and Paper 2 (Human) Geography. In Paper 1: Living World, students examine global ecosystems, comparing the Amazon rainforest with the cold environments of Svalbard. They also study fluvial processes and flood management in Paper 1: Rivers, utilising the River Severn and the Jubilee Flood Relief Channel as key case studies.

For the human geography topics, students investigate Paper 2: Urban Issues and Challenges and Changing Economic World. They explore urbanisation and sustainable cities by comparing Lagos and London, including London's Olympic Park regeneration, and analyse global development gaps, Jamaica's tourism, Nigeria's growth and the UK's shifting rural and industrial landscapes.

In Year 11, students complete their GCSE studies, combining physical and human topics with compulsory fieldwork and examination preparation. They study marine dynamics and management strategies at Swanage and Lyme Regis in Paper 1: Coasts, global resource distribution and sustainable farming in Almería and Jamalpur in Paper 2: Resource Management, and tectonic and weather hazards (such as the Nepal and Italy earthquakes and Typhoon Haiyan) in Paper 1: The Challenge of Natural Hazards.

A significant focus is placed on Paper 3: Fieldwork and the pre-release issue evaluation. Students write up and analyse primary data collected during physical fieldwork in Epping Forest and human fieldwork in the Olympic Park, refine their mathematical and graphical skills and evaluate a real-life geographical project using the examination board's pre-release booklet.

Year 12 and 13

Year 12

The Year 12 A Level curriculum shifts to advanced theoretical depth, quantitative data analysis, and independent research. Under Paper 1: Physical Geography, students master coastal systems and the water and carbon cycles, utilising complex case studies such as the River Exe, the Holderness Coastline, and Odisha, India. For Paper 2: Human Geography, they explore Changing Places and Contemporary Urban Environments, comparing local Watford with distant Detroit, and analysing urban patterns, microclimates, and social segregation in major world cities like London, Mumbai, and Los Angeles.

Students also initiate their Non-Exam Assessment (NEA). They build essential statistical, cartographic, and qualitative research skills, formulate their own enquiry questions, and design methodologies to collect primary fieldwork data which is supported by residential learning and research over the summer holidays.

In Year 13, students synthesise their geographic knowledge, finalise their independent research and prepare for national examinations. Under Paper 1: Hazards, they study plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes, storm hazards and wildfires, drawing on high-level case studies including Mount Etna, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, Hurricane Sandy and the Alberta wildfires. Under Paper 2: Global Systems and Global Governance, students critique globalisation and global commerce, examining trade agreements like the USMCA, transnational corporations like Apple, and the governance of global commons such as Antarctica.

Simultaneously, students complete their independent NEA , refining their critical data analysis, evaluation, and presentation skills. The year concludes with focused examination preparation, essay-writing workshops and timed examination practice, to ensure students are fully prepared for their final assessments.

Long Term Curriculum Overviews

Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 7 Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 8

Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 9 Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 10 Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 11 Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 12

Long Term Plan - Geography - Year 13

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

'The Big Picture' Curriculum Map

This document will provide a visual overview of the department's curriculum from Key Stages 3 to 5. This is in a student-friendly format to support them in their understanding the of the department's curriculum.

Big Picture Curriculum Map - Geography

Assessment

Department Assessment Matrix

This document provides an overview for assessment for Key Stages 3, 4 and 5.

Assessment Matrix

Key Stage 3 Judgement Descriptors

These documents give you an overview of the criteria for Emerging, Developing, Secure and Mastery judgements at KS3 for this subject.

KS3 Judgement Descriptors - Geography - Year 7

KS3 Judgement Descriptors - Geography - Year 8

KS3 Judgement Descriptors - Geography - Year 9

Home Learning

Home learning is used for to consolidate students’ learning from the lesson and to prepare them for upcoming new lesson content.

In geography, it is important to apply students' knowledge to different locations. Therefore, a common home learning task is to use case studies to support consolidation and/or application of knowledge

Home learning is set once per fortnight cycle at Key Stage 3 and increases to at least weekly at Key Stage 4 and 5 as students prepare for public examinations.

How can you help your child succeed in geography?

Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9)

BBC Bitesize - KS3 Geography: Interactive topic guides, short videos, and practice quizzes covering core physical and human geography concepts.
Ordnance Survey MapZone: Interactive games and step-by-step guides for mastering map reading, 4/6-figure grid references, and contour lines.
National Geographic Education: High-quality media, maps, and encyclopaedic entries ideal for researching biomes, climate change, and global cultures.
Geoguessr: A fun, interactive geography game using Street View that helps students build spatial awareness and recognise world landscapes and infrastructure.

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

BBC Bitesize - GCSE Geography: Detailed revision modules and quizzes organised by exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas).
CoolGeography: Comprehensive notes, diagrams, and dedicated case study summaries aligned with the GCSE curriculum.
Internet Geography: Excellent case study banks, daily geographical news links, and practice exam questions.
Seneca Learning: Interactive, self-paced revision courses designed specifically around individual exam board specifications.
Exam Board Portals (AQA): Direct links to subject specifications, sample papers, past exam papers, and official mark schemes.

Key Stage 5 (A Level)

Physics & Maths Tutor - Geography: In-depth revision notes, topic summaries, flashcards, and exam-style questions organised by topic for A-Level modules.
Royal Geographical Society (RGS) - School Resources: Lectures, podcasts, articles, and data sources that provide academic depth for synoptic essays and Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) coursework.
Tutor2u Geography: Higher-tier study notes, video tutorials, and exam technique advice targeting top-grade analytical skills.
Exam Board Portals (AQA): Direct links to subject specifications, sample papers, past exam papers, and official mark schemes.