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 B Roberts (Head of Faculty and Department)
bro@herschel.slough.sch.uk 

Mr G Whittaker 
gwhittaker@herschel.slough.sch.uk

Mrs S Dearling
sdl@herschel.slough.sch.uk 

Mrs J Lilley
jlilley@herschel.slough.sch.uk

Mr Christopher Koeberg
cko@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.

eTextbook Logins

Click on the textbook you need to go to the login page for the eBook.

Geography Unit Structure

Year 7 - 3 lessons per fortnight

• Your Place in the World 
• Mapskills 
• Weather and Climate 
• What is an economy?  
• Russia – Country study 
• Rivers 

Year 8 - 3 lessons per fortnight

• Africa – Continental study 
• Glaciation  
• Development  
• Population 
• Asia – Continental study 
• Coasts

Year 9 - 4 lessons per fortnight

• Middles East – Regional study 
• Earth Science & Volcanoes 
• Tectonics – Earthquakes and Tsunami 
• Climate Change  
• Issues of Resource management 

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 Chess

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.

via GIPHY

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.