Geography

Geography is the study of the earth’s landscapes, peoples, places and environments. It is, quite simply, about the world in which we live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyhSHDGg-cw

There has never been a better or more important time to study geography. With growing interest in issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation and social cohesion, geography is one of the most relevant subjects you study.

Whatever their passion for the world - fascination with landscapes or concerns about inequality – (preferably both) we aim to provide the pupils with knowledge and transferable skills that will foster a desire to continue to study the subject after they leave, whereupon they could save the planet! No pressure then.

By the time pupils complete a course in Geography at Hoe Bridge they should have knowledge and understanding of:

• Why our human and physical environments and landscapes appear as they are, how they form and operate, and how they inter-relate at various scales
• How and why patterns of human and physical features differ from place to place across the earth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC1qkLn6IRI&feature=related

• Differences and inequality within the human world; especially the economic and social causes of inequality and economic development
• The way in which particular places and regions have evolved to be distinctive 
• How to observe, describe, analyse, represent, interpret and report information about the world 
• Use a variety of ICT, map skills and fieldwork approaches

Geography is a notoriously difficult subject to 'place' in the curriculum: it is unique in bridging the social sciences (human geography) with the natural sciences (physical geography) as well as the arts and humanities. At Hoe Bridge we embrace this challenge by developing many cross curricular links, including orienteering (with PE) environmental studies (with Science) and designing earthquake proof building and constructing 3D contour models (with DT).

It is a subject where textbooks are more often just classroom decoration, as they are unable to show major events of geographical significance that can occur at any time. There is flexibility built into the programmes of study to allow classes to observe/reflect/debate events such as the Haiti earthquake or Iceland volcanic eruption or even geography of the World Cup or Swine flu, as or when they happen.

Elsewhere on this website you can observe the variety of creative ways in which the pupils are able to engage with the subject matter. These include songwriting, model making and TV new report broadcasts. We are fortunate to have wonderful school grounds that allow a lot of teaching to take place in the field. Pupils can record weather data and note microclimate differences, observe examples of weathering, undertake infiltration studies and observe river processes from the Hoe stream bridge. Classes and year groups are also able to visit local Field Studies centres and excellent educational centres such as Kew Gardens. At other times speakers visit the school to entertain and educate pupils.