KS3 GEOGRAPHY
“Geography is the subject which holds the key to our future.” – Michael Palin
Geography is an exciting and relevant subject that helps students understand the world around them, both locally and globally. At The Bicester School, our Geography curriculum equips students with the skills, knowledge, and critical awareness needed to become thoughtful global citizens.
At The Bicester School, our award-winning KS3 Geography curriculum builds knowledge and enquiry skills through local-to-global investigations, practical fieldwork, and inquiry-based learning. Students explore real-world issues, including climate change, development, and sustainability, developing curiosity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of the world. We are a department of 4 geography specialists to aim to inspire and engage pupils in the subject.
THREE THINGS TO EXPECT FROM GEOGRAPHY:
- DISCOVER
Explore Earth’s landscapes, processes, and challenges in local and global contexts. - THINK
Engage with enquiry, decision-making, and evaluation through real-world case studies. - ACT
Participate in hands-on fieldwork, mapping, and problem-solving to understand Geography’s relevance to everyday life.
KS3 Topics by year
Our aim at KS3 to:
- Develop geographers with strong geographical skills, place-specific knowledge, and a solid understanding of physical and human processes.
- Encourage students to become ‘Global Citizens’ who can think critically about the challenges facing our world today, including sustainability, global development, and climate change.
- Foster curiosity about the planet, inspiring learners to investigate real-world issues through enquiry, fieldwork, and critical thinking.
Learners have three geography lessons per fortnight and cover five units per academic year. Our KS3 curriculum is structured to build both skills and knowledge progressively over three years. Each unit includes an element of enquiry, fieldwork, and application to real-world issues.
Year 7
Map skills, atlas work, and local fieldwork around the school site.
Rivers
Introduction to river processes, landforms, and flood management.
India
Human and physical geography of India; development indicators and informal settlements.
Rock cycle, plate tectonics, and basic tectonic hazards.
Food chains, ecosystems, climate zones, and local biome investigation
Food chains, ecosystems, climate zones, and local biome investigation
Year 8
Population, demographics, migration, and development indicators.
Measuring weather, global climate zones, and extreme weather hazards.
Overview of African geography, colonisation, and natural resources.
Coastal processes, landforms, threats, and coastal fieldwork.
Glaciation, life in cold climates, and climate change.
Glaciation, life in cold climates, and climate change.
Year 9
Impacts of the fashion industry, sustainability, MNCs, and exploitation.
Earthquakes, volcanoes, and tectonics in depth, including case studies.
Global tourism industry, careers, and tourist area development.
China’s rise as a global power, economic growth, and geopolitics.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and local sustainability issues.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals and local sustainability issues.
Key Contact
If you would like any more information about this subject, please contact:
Mr Matt Brown – Head of Geography – matthew.brown@thebicesterschool.org.uk
Mrs Amie Withers – Lead teacher for KS3 & T&T – amie.withers@thebicesterschool.org.uk