Geography
Aims
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to develop a sense of place and an understanding of relative location
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to develop an awareness of the characteristics of a range of contrasting physical and human environments
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to promote an interest in and understanding of the ways in which people interact with each other and manage their environments
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to encourage pupils to form opinions on local, national and global issues
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To support pupils moving towards informed action on contemporary issue
Curriculum
At Key Stage Three all pupils study Geography for three periods per week. During this time, pupils are introduced to a wide range of geographical knowledge and skills. Textbooks provide the background while use of information and communication technology helps to encourage research skills. In particular pupils in Form 2 have the opportunity to access the crime statistics from an on-line G.I.S. (Geographic Information System) called NINIS (Northern Ireland Neighbourhood Information Service). In Form 3 they use the ICT suite to help produce some of the graphical techniques required for their fieldwork report.
Indeed fieldwork is central to our curriculum. In Form 1 we investigate the geography and weather of the BRA site, in Form 2 the pupils investigate the coastline at Holywood, County Down and in Form 3 we study the Central Business District of Larne. All these pieces of fieldwork allow our pupils to collect and to analyse information and to produce a report which is graded and goes towards their end of term assessment.
At Key Stage Four we follow the CCEA Geography specification. Again, fieldwork plays a significant role in the curriculum. The field report is valued at 20% of the GCSE award and allows collection, analysis and presentation of information. We examine the greater North Belfast area in terms of the quality of the environment and cross reference this with social and economic data from the most recent census. The other 80% is by examination of six themes in both physical and human geography.
A-level builds on the knowledge and skills acquired at Key Stages Three and Four. At A2 level decision-making is introduced. A number of our pupils are selected by the Trustees of Villiers Park for participation in the Reading Parties at Foxton, Cambridge. Many of our pupils go on to study Geography at University.
Facilities and Resources
The five geography classrooms are BG1 and BG2 on the ground floor of the Bruce building and BG3, BG4 and BG5 on different levels at the end of the Bruce building. Each classroom contains an interactive whiteboard with video/DVD projection and a whiteboard. A set of atlases are available in each room. There are networked PCs in each room with scanners in BG2, BG3 and BG5.
School News
BOYS’ ATHLETICS RESULTS
13th May 2008
District Championships, Antrim Forum
GIRLS’ ATHLETICS RESULTS
12th May 2008
District Championships, Antrim Forum
CHESS RESULTS
12th May 2008
UK Chess Challenge Megafinal of Northern Ireland
SHOWJUMPING RESULTS
12th May 2008
Ulster Schools’ Showjumping Spring Championships