Geography

Department Staff

Mr Duncan King (Head of Department)
Miss Jane Clarkson
Mrs Beth Coppins
Mr Richard Crabtree
Mr Dan Cross
Dr Chris Pyle

About Geography

Geography Photo Geography is a popular and successful subject at The Perse. In the department, we share a real enthusiasm for our subject and a desire to communicate this to our pupils.

In studying Geography, pupils investigate the links between people and their environment at both local and international scales. The subject encompasses the natural processes that shape the planet, the cultural diversity of its inhabitants, and contemporary issues of environment and development.

We seek to engage pupils in learning Geography by encouraging them to work and think independently and by ensuring our teaching is stimulating, varied and creative. In addition, we strongly believe that fieldwork is an essential component of the subject and pupils have an opportunity to take part in a fieldwork activity in almost every year at The Perse.

Curriculum and Fieldwork

Geography Photo Pupils in Years 7 and 8 investigate places in the UK, Europe and the wider world. They study traditional themes such as coasts and volcanoes, as well as more unusual topics such as the geographies of crime, the issues of resources (e.g. water) and conflict. There are fieldtrips for both year groups, to Norfolk and Cambridge.

In Year 9, pupils begin to cover GCSE topics including development, glaciation and urban environments. Fieldwork includes a boat trip on the Thames and data collection in Docklands.

Geography is an optional subject for GCSE and we are very pleased that approximately two-thirds of pupils have historically chosen to study it. The syllabus we follow is AQA 'A'. Pupils study a range of physical and human topics, complete an independent fieldwork project, and also attend a residential fieldtrip in the North Norfolk Coast. In 2009, 94% of pupils achieved A* or A grades.

Geography Photo Geography continues to be very popular at A-level where there are typically over 50 students studying at AS and A2. We follow OCR syllabus 'A' at AS and A2. At AS, some topics familiar from GCSE are investigated in greater depth and in different contexts (for example, modules on Glaciation and Urban Environments) while other topics are new (Arid and Semi Arid Environments and Energy).

Depth and challenge are greater again at A2, where pupils are encouraged to read widely and to think critically about the subject. They currently study Globalisation, Earth and Atmospheric Hazards for the Global Issues paper. Student also study Geographical Skills and complete a personal investigative study on sand dunes at following a visit to Winterton, North East Norfolk. The other main A-level fieldtrip is a four-day residential trip to the Cranedale Field Study Centre in Yorkshire. 97% of A2 geographers achieved 'A' or 'B' grades in 2009.

In addtion to the fieldtrips that are directly linked to the curriculum we also run an annual fieldtrip in August to Iceland which is open to Year 9, 10, 11 and L6th pupils. Iceland is a fascinating country for all Geographers and the trip gives pupils the opportunity to get up close to volcanoes, hot springs and major fault lines.

University Geographers

We are delighted by the numbers of Perse pupils who go on to study Geography at University. In recent years approximately one-third of pupils who have studied Geography at A-level have taken the subject at degree level.

We aim to support and extend all pupils who wish to apply for Geography at University through a range of specially arranged activities including mock interviews, seminars, lectures and study-day visits.

Mr Duncan King
Head of Geography