Year 9

This is an important year for the students.  Key Stage 3 exams loom in the Summer Term and although they don’t have to take exams in Geography and History we do have to assess their levels to be published in July.  All module tests this year are marked as percentages and levels and they are a good indicator as to whether they may do well at GCSE should they choose either subject to study in Key Stage 4.

In Geography we start the year looking at Plate Tectonics, or Volcanoes and Earthquakes.  It is usually fortunate or a sad coincidence that there is an Earthquake or Volcanic activity occurring somewhere in the World and suddenly Geography becomes real, the students can impress parents by explaining why and how these phenomena occur.

We look at why these volcanoes and earthquakes occur and then study particular disasters in the MEDC and the LEDC to see how they cope with these disasters.  Scientists think they can predict and minimise the effect of these natural disasters but students are encouraged to form their own opinions on various methods of forecasting and preventing damage from these disasters.

The second module focuses on an MEDC, Japan.  This compares with the LEDC studied in Year 8.  Within a developed country there are considerable differences and students are encouraged to compare the different physical and human characteristics of these countries.

Economic Activity   and World Trade is important to us all as we are dependent on other countries to provide goods we can’t provide at home.  Most of us own a car but we try to look at how the car industry has grown and the effect it has had on the economy a various countries such a Britain and America in the developed world and Brazil and Korea in the developing world.

Development has the inevitable effect on the environment and we conclude key Stage 3 by looking at how different countries in the World are at different stages in development and how the desire to improve our lifestyle is having a damaging effect on the environment.  Energy is something we take for granted.  The prospect of no telephone, television and in most homes computers, which require vast amounts of electricity but what can we do when current non-renewable resources run out?  This issue is studied and students are encouraged to carry out a detailed investigation into either the use of renewable and non-renewable resources or to look at the issue of the need for MEDCs and LEDCs to support and help each other.

Many students conclude their study of Geography at the end of Key Stage 3 but we hope to have fostered an interest, which will continue throughout their lives.