Saint Augustine's Priory School
Education for Life
At Key Stage 1, Geography is about developing knowledge, skills and understanding relating to children's own environment and the people who live there. Students at this level also begin to develop an awareness of the wider world.
Geography at this level is taught within a cross-curricular framework and includes such topics as: investigating the sea side; the road where I live; and sunflowers in France.
Building on the foundations of the previous Key Stage, pupils continue developing their knowledge, skills and understanding of people, places and environments at different scales, in the UK and overseas. They also begin to appreciate how places relate to each other.
Throughout the Junior School Geography is taught as a separate subject but cross-curricular links are encouraged with Maths, ICT, History and English. The local environment is used widely and as students approach Upper II they embark on a field work investigation usually organised in association with the Field Studies Council, the pioneering environmental education charity.
At this level Geography provides the vehicle by which pupils' interest in their surroundings is stimulated within a variety of human and physical conditions on the earth's surface. We hope at this level to foster our pupils' sense of wonder at the beauty around them and to encourage them to develop a concern about the quality of their environment and the future of the human habitat, enhancing their sense of responsibility for the care of the earth and its people.
As pupils progress through this Key Stage a greater emphasis is placed on the investigative nature of Geography through fieldwork. Cross-curricular links continue to be encouraged.
Geography at this level is a popular choice for many as they start to consider potential career options. GSCE assessment consists of three parts:
Paper 1 |
People and the Physical Environment |
40% |
Paper 2 |
People and the Human Environment |
35% |
Coursework |
2,500 written work based on fieldwork data |
25% |
Paper 1 encompasses the study of geographical skills, and the interaction of people and the natural environment; through the study of tectonic activity, rocks as well as coastal landscapes and processes. Paper 2 includes a study of population, agriculture, development and interdependence.
Geography at A Level aims to provide a balanced geographical knowledge which builds upon prior knowledge of the subject at GCSE. Through the use of regional examples and case studies pupils gain a meaningful understanding of geographical concepts and principles. Detailed studies are undertaken at a variety of scales from the local through to the global and, in addition, areas at various stages of development.
AS Examination |
A2 Examination |
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Unit 1: Physical Environments |
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Unit 4: Physical Systems. Process and Patterns |
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Earth Systems |
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Atmospheric Systems |
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Fluvial Environments |
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Glacial Systems |
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Coastal Environments |
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Ecosystems |
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Unit 2: Human Environments |
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Unit 5: Human Systems. Process and Patterns |
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Population Characteristics |
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Economic Systems |
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Settlement Patterns |
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Rural - Urban Interrelationships |
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Population Movements |
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Development Processes |
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Unit 3: |
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Unit 6: Synoptic Assessment |
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Fieldwork investigation, leading to a skills based examination. |
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People and their environments |
"The past is a foreign country."
Our aim is to explore it.
At Key Stage 1, History is about the lives and lifestyles of familiar people in the recent past and about famous people and events in the more distant past, including those from British history. In Prep I girls spend time talking, drawing and collecting pictures of family members and in later years learn about characters like Guy Fawkes, Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole.
Throughout Key stage 2 the girls study people, important events and developments from recent and more distant times in the locality, in Britain and in other parts of the world. Topics include the Celts, Romans, an investigation of ancient Egypt and Greece, Tudors, Stuarts and Victorians.
The girls begin to learn about significant individuals and events in the history of Britain from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. They may also spend some time learning about key aspects of European and world history including an introduction to the First World War and the opportunity for students to visit and experience life in the trenches and visit some of the war cemeteries in northern France and Belgium.
The History GSCE assessment consists of three aspects:
Paper 1 |
Conflict in the Modern World |
37.5% |
Paper 2 |
Governments in Action in the first half of the Twentieth Century |
37.5% |
Coursework |
Britain in the Second World War
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25% |
The study of History provides not only a deeper understanding of the society in which we live, but a sound intellectual training which can form a springboard to university studies and future careers.
A Level studies in History will provide students with an opportunity to analyse some of the formative events and personalities in both British and European History. In order to provide a broad range of topics, the syllabus (OCR) deals with the following:
AS Examination |
A2 Examination |
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Louis XIV's France |
Roosevelt's USA |
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The Rise of Nazi Germany |
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Henry VIII and Wolsey |
Personal study (15% of A2) |