Geography

What is Geography about and who might want to take it?

Welcome to the exciting world of Geography! With issues such as climate change, migration, international relations, environmental crises and changing global power dynamics dominating the news and our lives, there has never been a better time to dive into this subject. Who is suited to studying geography?

1. Anyone can study geography. We are an incredibly welcoming and inclusive department and often our students refer to us as the "geography family". 

2. Problem solvers who care: Do you care about people and the planet and want to better understand the causes, impact and future possibilities regarding local and global challenges such as climate change, geopolitical conflict and tourism?

3. Curious explorers: Are you curious about the way the world functions? Geography can turn your curiosity into inside about our natural and human environments and how they interact.

4. Those who enjoy connecting learning to real life: One of the things our students love most about geography is that it makes sense and meaning to them as they can connect their learning to real world lived experiences and current events.

5. For thinkers who enjoy varied learning experiences: In Geography we learn in many different ways - discussions, discovery learning, fieldwork, decision making, essay writing, seminars.

Where can Geography take me in the future?

Geography as a discipline is a popular choice at university level.  Many of our DP students go on to take Geography related degrees. Employers appreciate Geographers as they are adept at understanding complex spatial relationships, which is crucial in fields like urban planning, logistics, and data analysis. Their ability to analyze and interpret data, combined with a holistic understanding of the environment, makes them valuable assets in various industries and this is particularly important in an era where businesses and organisations operate on a global scale. Overall, the skills and insights that geographers bring to the table make them highly sought-after candidates in both the job market and higher education institutions. 

• Inspire a sense of wonder at the beauty and diversity of our world 

• Develop intellectual curiosity

• Foster an understanding that the wellbeing of people, the economy and the environment depends on the interactions between them

• Develop a holistic contemporary insight into our most important local and global challenges

• Promote systems thinking mindsets and complex problem solving

• Encourage an exploration of diverse geographic and cultural perspectives

• Generate a sense of moral responsibility towards our planet and its people 

Grade 9

1. How many people can live on planet earth?

People matter. Populations are dynamic and diverse and their size and structure has implications for society, the economy and the environment. This unit will allow you to make some decisions and solve some complex problems.

2. Would a future without fossil fuels reduce conflict?

Natural resources are under pressure. A systems thinking approach to investigate tensions involving valuable natural resources and the possibilities for sustainable management. This unit will inspire some rich discussion activities.

3. Can we fix the climate emergency? 

Climate change is happening. Understanding the science, the impacts, perspectives and possible fixes for the global climate crisis. This unit will culminate in a large student led action project.

4. Should rivers have rights?

Rivers need rights. Understanding the importance of our rivers as landscape shapers and life givers but also appreciating their dangers and how humans threaten these water bodies. This unit will involve fieldwork.

Grade 10

1. Are you a responsible tourist?

Tourism can cause harm. A reflective unit that explores the impacts that tourists can have on people and places at different scales and the possibilities for a sustainable approach. This unit will involve Post Formula 1 fieldwork.

2. Are some places more vulnerable to natural disasters than others? 

Natural disasters are deadly. Understanding physical processes, vulnerabilities and    

innovative disaster management strategies. This unit will introduce students to digital 

mapping software.

3. Are we prisoners of Geographer (how the natural world influences geopolitics)?

Physical geography shapes political geography. A unit which explores the power of physical geography in shaping our current geopolitics. A unit based on the powerful books by Tim Marshall - Prisoners of Geography and the Power of Geography.

4. Are we wrong about world development? 

Things are better than you think. A skills based unit focused on developing media and data literacy techniques to break down development misconceptions and help us control dramatic instinct. 

Geography will use a variety of assessments that are designed to evaluate your understanding and progress, develop metacognitive skills, motivate performance and prepare you for the assessment demands of the IB Diploma Programme. Types of assessment will include fieldwork reports, discussion and presentations, written reports and examinations.