Geography

‘….suddenly it becomes more than a subject. Geography becomes the knowledge. The knowledge of the planet, how everything works and how it is all inter-connected. It becomes what geography has always been for me – a fusion of the power of the imagination and the hard truths of science. Geography is all about the living, breathing essence of the world we live in. It explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?’
Michael Palin, London November 2007

The Geography Department is an innovative and forward thinking department which encourages students to learn skills and knowledge to understand the world around them.

At Key Stage 3 students cover a wide range of topics in keeping with the national curriculum. Students are set according to ability and learn in the same teaching groups in English, History and RS as well as Geography. In year 8 and year 9 the teaching hours increase to four every fortnight. All Key Stage 3 students are encouraged to join the numerous fieldtrips we run. We encourage lots of outdoor learning as well as making cross-curricular links with other departments such as Science (ecosystems) and use Information Technology as much as possible in order to help students develop a better understanding of the world around them.

GCSE numbers have greatly increased in recent years, so much so that Geography is the most popular option subject at GCSE (Exam board: Edexcel A).

A-level numbers have also increased. Students’ selecting Geography at A level (Exam board: Edexcel), follow a modular course which provides a balanced geographical education inter-relating both the human and physical environment. This builds on, but is not dependent on, prior knowledge of the subject at GCSE.

Fieldwork is integral in helping students develop Geographical skills. At MHCHS we offer trips throughout Key Stage 3-5. These include a residential fieldtrip to the Jurassic Coastline in Dorset and trips to Epping Forest and the London 2012 Olympic site to see the impact of regeneration. We also aim to offer a trip to Iceland every two years to students who study Geography at GCSE and A level.

Recently we have been awarded two awards for the quality of the geography offered at MHCHS. These were awarded by the Geographical Association (2010) and the Princes Teaching Institute (2010 and 2011).

Why Study Geography?

Geography students are in high demand from employers because they gain a wide range of skills and knowledge, developed through the stimulating use of contemporary issues and real-world examples.

Even though many geographers end up in directly related jobs, the importance of geography lies in the number of basic skills it provides which individuals can 'market'. More and more geographers are now finding themselves in jobs that include medicine, banking, advertising, the media, business management, law and the armed forces. These careers may not appear directly geographically related, but they utilise more general skills and attributes such as the collection, analysis and interpretation of data, the application of methodical working techniques, the ability to view problems from a number of angles and some general knowledge of the world.

The revolution in Information Technology of recent years has been seized upon by geographers who use IT for data collection and analysis through the development of sophisticated computer- based Geographical Information Systems (GIS). We are in a world where over 80% of information is spatially based, and so GIS is an essential tool within business organisations and government.

Furthermore the nature of our lives is changing. It is less likely that someone will spend all their life in one company or organisation (the so-called job for life). If your career path is to be varied you will need to develop transferable skills and you will need to be flexible. Geography fosters these qualities and provides a firm base for life-long learning.