Geography is a very popular
subject with pupils at all 3 Key Stages. Our
results are amongst the best in the school
and there is a good take up of the subject
at GCSE and Advanced Level. We work closely
with our colleagues in the History and RE departments,
teamwork is very important at all levels and
we endeavour to provide a stimulating and enjoyable
learning experience for our pupils.
At Key Stage 3 we follow the David Waugh ‘Key
Geography’ scheme. This enables us
to cover six units a year and subjects studied
include Settlement, Rivers and Water Supply,
Weathering and Erosion, Environmental Concerns
and Development. In Year 7 pupils are taught
in mixed ability groups but are set by ability
in Years 8 and 9.
At Key Stage 4 we follow the WJEC/OCR Avery
Hill Geography syllabus. As already stated,
Geography is a very popular subject in the
school and we invariably have over 40% of
the year group opting to study it at GCSE.
The Avery Hill course seeks to examine the
relationship between people and the world
they live in and it covers topics on Climate
and Environment, Water and Landforms, Urban
and Rural Areas and Work and Development.
Pupils also embark upon 2 pieces of coursework:
one of these is based in their local area
and the other is an oral presentation about
a major biome.
At Key Stage 5, we are a part of the Deeside
Consortium, which also incorporates Connah’s
Quay High School, St.David’s High School
and Deeside College, so pupils study Geography
both at John Summers High and at another
centre. We study the WJEC modular syllabus
and John Summers High is responsible for
the delivery of the Physical part of the
course. This includes a study of plate tectonics,
river systems, glaciation, small-scale ecosystems
and world biomes. Take up at Advanced level
is very good and many of our students continue
with the subject at university.
