The King's (The Cathedral) School

  • Welcome to our school

    Welcome to The King’s School. We are proud of our long-standing history and tradition going back to 1541 and embrace everything the modern world has to offer, as we look towards the future. We value, and strive to encourage, individual academic success, alongside musical, cultural and sporting achievements, within the Christian family ethos, which is central to everything we do. Our aim is to be “A Family Achieving Excellence”.  Read More

  • Music at King's

    We enjoy a deserved reputation for musical excellence.  As The Cathedral School, we educate the Peterborough Cathedral Choristers; the School benefits not only from their professionalism but also from the talents and enthusiasm of so many other able musicians, who perform in an extensive range of orchestras, choirs, bands and ensembles  in school, in the wider community of  Peterborough and on tour abroad.  Read More

  • Sport at King's

    We are committed to breadth and quality within Physical Education; it helps develop self-esteem, dignity and respect for all members of our community.  It is crucial to students’ personal development, and plays a significant role in our curricular and extra-curricular life. Read More

  • Teaching & Learning

    Central to every student's progress is the quality of Teaching & Learning. We aim to offer excellence both in the classroom and within a King’s education in its broadest sense, combining the best of modern thinking and technological developments with strategies which have stood the test of time, to prepare our young people to go out with confidence and enthusiasm to face the challenges of today’s world. Read More

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Geography

The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps us make sense of a complex and dynamically changing world. Geography explains how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environments interact and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected (QCA 2007). Whether it is the threat of global warming, the consequences of our ageing population or controversial planning decisions in our local area, the media provides a constant reminder of the importance of ‘Geography’ in our lives.
 

‘The SGQM recognises excellence in teaching and learning in geography.’

The Geographical Association 2010
 

The King's (The Cathedral) School Geography Curriculum Area (CA) is innovative and all members of staff try to make their lessons engaging and thought provoking. Students are encouraged to develop a sense of wonder of the world and to become global citizens. Furthermore, students are encouraged to be active learners and apply their knowledge and understanding to the real world. This approach is facilitated by a variety of enquiry work embedded into curriculum. We use a range of techniques and have access a wide range of resources, for example creative lesson material, a lap-top trolley and GIS Software.

 

Key Stage 3 Geography

The Geography CA encourages students to develop an awe and wonder about places. All Schemes of Learning have local, national and international links and encourage students to consider and apply the principles of sustainable development.

Year 7:
  • Map Skills
  • Local Enquiry
  • Challenging Coasts
  • Africa - Investigating Contrasts
  • Geography of Food

Year 8:

  • Microclimate Enquiry
  • Brazil – Investigating contrasts
  • Managing Resources
  • 2012 London Olympics
  • Managing Floods

Year 9:

  • Natural Hazards
  • Local Enquiry
  • The Rise of China
  • The Global Fashion Industry
  • The Geography of Crime
Geography of Place, local fieldwork and GIS activities are completed throughout Key Stage 3. Furthermore teaching and learning is adapted to reflect topical events.
 

Key Stage 4 

AQA A GCSE highlights the critical importance of geography for understanding the world and for stimulating an interest in places. The main focus of the GCSE is an understanding of physical processes and factors that produce diverse and dynamic landscapes that change over time. Furthermore students will learn to appreciate the differences and similarities between people, places and cultures, leading to an improved understanding of societies and economies. 


Unit 1 (37.5%) content studied at The King’s (The Cathedral) School:

  • The Coastal Zone
  • Living World (Ecosystems)
  • Ice on the Land

Unit 2 (37.5%) content studied at The King’s (The Cathedral) School:

  • Changing Urban Environments
  • The Development Gap
  • Tourism

Outline detail on Controlled Assessment (25%)

Students will also complete a controlled assessment consisting of a local fieldwork investigation (25%). It is anticipated that students will have a choice between an urban study of Lincoln or the coastal characteristics of Hunstanton. Using their fieldwork experience, students will produce a 2000 word report to an investigative theme set by the exam board. The controlled assessment will be completed in school during Yr10 (April – June).


Key Stage 5 AS/A2 Geography

AQA AS/A2 Geography

Contemporary geography is a subject, which explicitly engages with the relationship of human populations to each other, space and time, and their relationship with their physical environment, at a variety of scales, from the local to the global (AQA 2010).
 
At AS Level students are assessed by 2 examinations (GEOG1 and GEOG2) consisting of short and extended questions.
 
Outline of AS content studied at The King’s (The Cathedral) School:
 
Unit 1: 2 Hour Exam (35% of A-level)
The study of core geographical concepts, along with contrasting themes of contemporary or environmental impact, management and sustainability. Topics studied:
Physical Core: Rivers, floods and management
Physical Option: Cold environments
Human Core: Population Change
Human Option: Energy Issues
 
Unit 2: 1 Hour Exam (15% of A-level)
A geographical skills paper based on the content of GEOG1. Skills include: investigative, cartographic, graphical, ICT and statistical skills. To facilitate application of skills students complete a 3 day residential in Edale where they investigate urban regeneration in Sheffield and downstream changes within the Edale Valley.
 
Outline of A2 content studied at The King’s (The Cathedral) School
 
Unit 3: 2.5 Hour Exam (30% of A-level)
An issues-based approach to contemporary themes. Students are assessed by short and extended questions, plus an essay.
Topics studied:
Plate tectonics and associated hazards
Ecosystems: change and challenge
Development and globalisation
Contemporary conflicts and challenges
 
Unit 4: 1.5 Hour Exam (20% of A-level)
Geographical Issue Evaluation; structured short and extended questions based on Advance Information Booklet. This unit gives candidates the opportunity to use their skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation on a real world issue.
 
 

Curriculum Area Staff

Miss S George (SG) - Curriculum Area Manager / Seconded to SLT
 
Mrs A Amps (AMA) - Teacher of Geography / AST
 

Mrs S Gray (MSG) - Teacher of Geography / Yr8 PDM

Miss L Howson (LH) - Teacher of Geography