Geography
“The natural world is changing, and we are totally dependent on it.” – David Attenborough
GEOGRAPHYGeography provides a unique lens to understand how the earth’s elements connect. It helps students gain a clear understanding of their surroundings and encourages them to question how the world works.
We urge students to examine global challenges through varied viewpoints and explore solutions to issues like inequality, climate change, and sustainability. This is supported by fostering strong geographical literacy, skill development, and decision-making abilities, both in the classroom and during field experiences.
The geography curriculum is designed to:
- Explore diverse content through physical, social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political lenses to enhance students’ understanding of places and environments across different scales.
- Focus on understanding physical and human processes, using this knowledge to analyze people-environment and people-place connections.
- Tackle critical global issues like climate change, inequality, geopolitics, and sustainability to engage students in shaping the world.
- Equip students with the skills to apply geographical knowledge to investigate key geographical challenges.
- Develop students’ character, ethics, and responsibility, fostering a sense of global citizenship.
- Prepare students with transferrable skills for their future careers and life paths.
KEY STAGE 3
The Key Stage 3 curriculum is varied and engaging, aimed at promoting a love of the subject. It is carefully sequenced to enable students to achieve mastery in the subject. We introduce key geographical skills whilst exploring a wide range of physical and human units. Year 7 investigate the existence of microclimates around the school site. Year 9 come off timetable in half-year groups to compete in the World Trade game in the Great Hall. The students are divided into groups and trade with each other within the ‘free’ market economy of tariffs, quotas and other sanctions! Year 9 develop their independent learning skills, by investigating an issue in their local area, which involves collecting field data, and subsequent analysis.
Year 7
- Mastering mapwork
- Wild weather
- Amazing Africa
- Glorious glaciation
Year 8
- Wild waters
- Moving masses
- Changing coastlines
- Incredible India
Year 9
- Going global
- Perilous plates
- Magical Middle East
- Our world in 2035
KEY STAGE 4
At GCSE, students follow the AQA Geography curriculum, a widely chosen subject. They conduct two fieldwork projects—one in human geography and one in physical geography—giving them the chance to connect theory with real-world experiences. The course is structured with alternating human and physical topics to provide variety and maintain student interest.
YEAR 10
- Living world
- Resource management
- UK physical landscapes
YEAR 11
- Urban issues
- Natural hazards
- Economic world
KEY STAGE 5
At A Level, students follow the AQA Geography specification. In Year 12, they go on two field trips: one to Camber Sands to study sand dune vegetation and another to Stratford to assess the Olympics’ impact. In Year 13, students plan and carry out an independent investigation on human, physical, or both geographical aspects.
YEAR 12
- Changing places
- Coasts
- Natural hazards
YEAR 13
- Global systems and governance
- Water and carbon cycles
- Population and environment
EXTRA - CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
- A bi-annual ‘Awe and Wonder’ trip to Iceland, a highlight for all participants.
- GeogSoc, our vibrant society, led entirely by Sixth Form students.
- Engaging guest lectures from field experts.
- Subscription to Geography Review magazine for deeper exploration.
- Exclusive access to the Royal Geographical Society’s lectures, essay contests, and more.
- Online seminars and lectures to broaden knowledge.
- ‘Discover the World’ webinars to dive into diverse global geography topics.
DESTINATIONS
We are dedicated to nurturing a lifelong passion for geography, as demonstrated by the 58 students who pursued geography-related degrees, including Geology, Physical Geography, and Geography with Economics, from 2018 to 2023. Our graduates go on to study at renowned institutions such as the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Durham University, and University of Manchester.
“At Moonstone Academy, we are dedicated to providing exceptional support to ensure our students have the opportunities and encouragement they need to thrive and reach their full potential, both academically and in the broader community.”