Geography

Subject intent

Every student will be a leader in their chosen field, with many choosing to be leaders in STEM. At HSAEL, we believe in leadership with GRACE. We enact this mission through our core business of unified leadership, exemplary behaviour, a well-taught academic curriculum for all and character development. All our work is underpinned by our HSAEL values. We encourage students to adopt a growth mindset, take responsibility, be ambitious, develop compassion, and cultivate excellence in everything they do.

We want all student to be leaders in their chosen field. In Geography, this means that our students will go to the top Research Universities and enter careers such as international development, aid work, and town planning. This would include Oxbridge and Russell group universities. This education will enable them to make positive contributions to the field of geography in the future.

Subject links to HSAEL values

1. To develop growth by equipping students with the firm foundations of knowledge, skills and cultural capital to be able to communicate and understand Geography.

2. To help students take responsibility by understanding the importance of conversation to strive for and maintain balance in the world.

3. To promote ambition through academic rigour in order to gain access to Russell Group universities and professional careers.

4. To encourage compassion by appreciating varying contexts and interpreting contemporary issues in a sensitive and respectful way.

5. To cultivate excellence through procuring a lifelong sense of geographical curiosity.

How does the study of Geography link to future careers?

As a degree subject, geography is highly respected by employers. Being an interdisciplinary subject, students gain wide variety of skills and knowledge of contemporary issues. Geography graduates from university have one of the highest rates of graduate employment, pursuing a wide range of career paths.

Success in Geography can lead to careers in politics, law, education, media, urban planning, research, international aid and development, risk analysis, sustainability consultancy, data analysis, conservation and more.

How does Geography link to the extra-curricular provision at HSAEL?

Through the study of Geography, students will be exposed to a variety of culturally enriching experiences. In KS3, year 7 and year 8 students will do fieldwork along the River Lea, which will involve collecting quantitative and qualitative data to analyse in the classroom.

This is in preparation for GCSE Geography where students in Year 10 will go to Walton-on-the-Naze to collect data on coastal management strategies for their OCR Paper 1 exam. Students will also conduct fieldwork around Canary Wharf when looking at the unit on ‘The UK in the 21^st century’ and visit the Museum of London Docklands.

There is a weekly geography club commencing September 2024 where students will have the opportunity to explore geographical issues, hone skills, and gain insights of cultures and traditions through discussion and film.