United Kingdom · National Curriculum Attainment Targets
Year 11 Geography
This course prepares students for the complexities of the modern world by examining the physical processes shaping our planet and the human systems that define our society. Students will develop critical thinking skills through the analysis of environmental change, urban development, and global economic disparities.
01The Living World and Ecosystems
An investigation into the interdependence of climate, soil, and vegetation within tropical rainforests and cold environments.
Students will analyze the unique nutrient cycle of tropical rainforests and its implications for soil fertility.
Students will explore the incredible biodiversity of the Amazon and the adaptations of its flora and fauna.
Students will investigate the primary human-induced threats to tropical rainforests, such as logging and agriculture.
Students will evaluate different strategies for sustainable management and conservation of tropical rainforests.
Students will identify and describe the unique physical characteristics of tundra and glacial regions.
Students will investigate the adaptations of plants and animals to survive in harsh cold environments.
Students will examine the opportunities and challenges of extracting natural resources from the Arctic.
Students will assess the importance of protecting unique cold wilderness areas and the challenges involved.
Students will analyze the factors influencing the global distribution of major biomes.
Students will investigate how human activities alter the distribution and health of global biomes.
02The Challenge of Natural Hazards
A deep dive into the tectonic and meteorological processes that create hazards and the human responses to them.
Students will review the theory of plate tectonics and its role in shaping the Earth's surface.
Students will compare the impacts and responses to an earthquake in a High-Income Country (HIC) and a Low-Income Country (LIC).
Students will investigate the types of volcanic eruptions, associated hazards, and mitigation strategies.
Students will learn about the causes of tsunamis, their destructive power, and warning systems.
Students will learn about the atmospheric conditions and processes leading to the formation of tropical cyclones.
Students will examine the social, economic, and environmental impacts of tropical storms.
Students will evaluate strategies for predicting, preparing for, and protecting against tropical storms.
Students will investigate the increasing frequency and impacts of extreme weather events in the UK.
Students will evaluate the scientific evidence supporting global climate change.
Students will differentiate between natural and anthropogenic factors driving global temperature changes.
Students will investigate the global and local impacts of climate change on physical and human systems.
Students will evaluate mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing climate change.
03Urban Issues and Challenges
Studying the growth of megacities and the opportunities and pressures of rapid urbanization.
Students will analyze the push and pull factors driving rapid urbanization, particularly in Low-Income Countries (LICs).
Students will investigate the characteristics and challenges associated with the growth of megacities globally.
Students will focus on the causes and characteristics of informal settlements (slums) and their role in urban development.
Students will assess the impacts of regeneration projects in major UK cities, using examples like London's Docklands.
Students will investigate the role of internal and international migration in shaping the demographics and character of UK cities.
Students will evaluate strategies for promoting sustainable transport and reducing congestion in urban areas.
Students will explore different approaches to urban waste management, including recycling and waste-to-energy.
Students will evaluate the importance of green spaces and urban design in promoting social cohesion and well-being.
Students will investigate the growing challenge of water security for 21st-century urban planners.
Students will explore the concept of 'smart cities' and their potential to address urban challenges.
04The Changing Economic World
An analysis of global development patterns, the causes of the development gap, and strategies to reduce inequality.
Students will critique the use of economic indicators like GNI per capita to classify countries.
Students will explore social indicators such as HDI, birth rate, and death rate to understand development.
Students will investigate the historical, economic, and physical factors contributing to the global development gap.
Students will analyze the Demographic Transition Model and its relationship to economic shifts.
Students will evaluate the effectiveness of different forms of international aid in promoting development.
Students will assess the impact of fair trade initiatives and debt relief on reducing the development gap.
Students will evaluate the role of tourism as a sustainable development strategy for Low-Income Countries (LICs).
Students will trace the UK's economic shift from manufacturing to a service and knowledge-based economy.
Students will investigate the causes and consequences of the economic disparities between the North and South of the UK.
Students will examine the UK's role in global trade, finance, and its place in a post-Brexit world.
05Resource Management
Focusing on the global distribution and use of food, water, and energy resources.
Students will analyze the causes and consequences of water scarcity in different regions globally.
Students will evaluate different strategies for managing water resources, including dams and desalination.
Students will investigate the concept of 'virtual water' and its implications for global water security.
Students will analyze the factors driving global energy demand and its relationship with economic development.
Students will compare the advantages and disadvantages of fossil fuels and nuclear power.
Students will evaluate the potential and limitations of various renewable energy sources.
Students will investigate how energy insecurity affects a nation's sovereignty and international relations.
Students will analyze the causes and consequences of global food insecurity and hunger.
Students will evaluate high-tech solutions to global food demand, such as hydroponics and GM crops.
Students will explore low-tech and sustainable approaches to food production and consumption.
06Physical Landscapes of the UK
Detailed study of coastal and river landscapes, focusing on the geomorphic processes that shape them.
Students will investigate the various processes of coastal erosion and their impact on landforms.
Students will analyze how longshore drift and deposition create unique coastal landforms.
Students will evaluate the effectiveness and environmental impacts of hard engineering strategies.
Students will investigate soft engineering approaches like beach nourishment and managed retreat.
Students will analyze the processes of river erosion and transportation that shape river valleys.
Students will investigate the formation of erosional landforms in the upper course of a river, such as waterfalls and gorges.
Students will analyze the formation of meanders, ox-bow lakes, and floodplains.
Students will investigate the causes of river flooding and different management strategies.
Students will explore the processes of glacial erosion, transportation, and deposition, and the landforms they create.
Students will learn about various data collection techniques used in geographical fieldwork.
Students will develop skills in presenting and analyzing geographical data, including cartographic skills.
Students will explore the application of GIS technology in geographical inquiry and analysis.
Students will learn to plan fieldwork investigations, including risk assessment and ethical considerations.