Geography

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 various graphical techniques to investigate levels of education and environmental quality in Belfast.  

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 examine deprivation in Belfast. In Forms 1 and 2 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. The new specification which begins with Form 4 in September 2009 replaces coursework with controlled assessment – this will be examined in September 2010 for our pupils.

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. In addition lecturers from Queen’s University speak to the Sixth Form geographers on topics which are relevant to the course they are following – for example the management of coastal processes at Dundrum Bay and Newcastle, County Down. We are currently investigating the feasibility of an overseas study trip at Advanced Level.

Facilities and Resources