Geography
"Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future" - Michael Palin
Click here for ten reasons to study Geography
Staff Contact Details
Mr G Whittaker (Head of Faculty)
gwhittaker@herschel.slough.sch.uk
Mr D Wilkins
dwilkins@herschel.slough.sch.uk
Mrs J Lilley
jlilley@herschel.slough.sch.uk
Mr I Amod
iamod@herschel.slough.sch.uk
Mr S Devereux
sdevereux@herschel.slough.sch.uk
Department Overview
Welcome to the Geography department homepage! You can see the exciting range of topics that Geography at Herschel covers lower down on this page, and there are some interesting weblinks below.
All resources for teaching and learning can be found on your class OneDrive group.
Fieldwork forms an important component of the Geography curriculum at Herschel, and currently includes visits to Marlow and the River Thames, Kew Gardens, the Natural History Museum and Seven Sisters and Birling Gap.
The department has subscribed to ArcView GIS software to support fieldwork - the industry standard for jobs and careers based around Geographical Information Systems.
In the sixth form, destinations include the London Docklands, Chertsey, Littlehampton, Slapton Sands for a more extended residential experience and, more locally, Lakeside Energy from Waste at Colnbrook.
The Geography department helps to lead the way with new technology, making regular use of our school iPads, tablets and laptops and apps such as Padlet, Nearpod and Explain Everything. Students collaborate in geography using Microsoft Office 365 documents and OneNote notebooks.
Latest Work
At the end of the summer term, Year 9 used their learning from the previous few weeks of the 'Challenges for the Planet' unit to produce some TV adverts raising awareness of some key environmental issues. Below are a few of the best; you can visit our YouTube channel (see link further down the page) to see more of the short films.
Renuka, Riya and Raneem looked at biodiversity loss:
Prima, Sankavi and Nikitha produced a film on climate change:
Radhika and Ruqayah looked at ocean acidification:
Deforestation was the theme for Jason, Indirjot and Koshik:
Rovinya and Tharuka looked at acid rain:
eTextbook Logins
Click on the textbook you need to go to the login page for the eBook.
Twitter Feed
Follow us on Twitter @GeogDWI_HGS for daily updates on Geography in the news, exam tips and useful reminders for pupils studying the subject. You can also see our latest tweets right here.
Geography Unit Structure
Year 7 - 3 lessons per fortnight
- Your Place in the World
- Mapskills
- Africa
- Glaciation
- Settlement
- The Geography of Crime
Year 8 - 2 lessons per fortnight
- Ecosystems
- Development
- China
- Weather and Climate
Year 9 - 4 lessons per fortnight
- Managing Rivers and Coasts
- Population and Migration
- Volcanoes and Earthquakes
- Environmental Issues
Year 10 - 6 lessons per fortnight
Exam Board: Edexcel A
The Physical Environment
- Changing Landscapes of the UK
- Weather Hazards and Climate Change
- Ecosystems, Biodiversity and Management
Fieldwork: The River Mole
Year 11 - 5 lessons per fortnight
Exam Board: Edexcel A
The Human Environment
- Changing Cities
- Global Development
- Resource Management
- Water Resource Management
Fieldwork: Slough Central Business District
UK Challenges
Year 12 - 10 lessons per fortnight
Exam Board: Edxecel
- Topic 1 - Tectonic Processes and Hazards
- Topic 2b - Landscape Systems, Processes and Change (Coastal Landscapes)
- Topic 3 - Globalisation
- Topic 4a - Shaping Places (Regenerating Places)
Year 13 - 10 lessons per fortnight
Exam Board: Edxecel
- Topic 5 - Water Cycle and Water Insecurity
- Topic 6 - Carbon Cycle and Energy Security
- Topic 7 - Superpowers
- Topic 8 - Global Development and Connections
- Independent Investigation (NEA)
Geography Revision
Some of the tips below may help you to revise more effectively in Geography, and in other subjects too.
Careers in Geography
What can a study of Geography lead to? Take a look at this guide from the Royal Geographical Society to find out more!
And from the 'Get Smaart' careers magazine:
Do you know your SDGs?
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. These 17 Goals build on the successes of the Millennium Development Goals, while including new areas such as climate change, economic inequality, innovation, sustainable consumption, peace and justice, among other priorities. The goals are interconnected – often the key to success on one will involve tackling issues more commonly associated with another.
Useful Links
Click the button below to visit the Geography Department's YouTube channel
Click the link below to go straight to the BBC News website and find out the top UK and World news stories. Geography doesn't stand still - it's happening all the time!
How good are you at identifying different parts of the world? Click on the link below to take the challenge!
Want to see a British Airways plane taxi down your own street? Click on the logo below and insert your postcode...
How good is your European geography? Can you pilot the plane safely around Europe and arrive at the right places? Click the link below to find out......
Click on the link below to play the Guardian's Global Development Game....
Students: click on the link below to go to Herschel's subscription to ArcGIS Geographical Information System software
Enrichment Strategies
Want to know how you can do more to help with your core study of Geography? Or how you can move from Year 7 to Year 8 effectively, or Year 8 to Year 9? Take a look at the documents that can be downloaded below.
If you are in Year 12 or 13, you can also access an excellent reading list produced by the Geographical Association - be selective, but if you are really wanting to develop your geographical knowledge and experiences, there are some great opportunities to do so here.
| Name | Date | |
|---|---|---|
 Enrichment Strategies Year 7 into Year 8 |
28th January 2015 | Download > |
| Enrichment Strategies Year 9 |
28th January 2015 | Download > |
| Enrichment Strategies Year 12 |
28th January 2015 | Download > |
| Enrichment Strategies Year 13 |
28th January 2015 | Download > |
| A Level Geography Reading List |
28th August 2017 | Download > |
