Geography

• Qualified and enthusiastic teaching staff

• Help, guidance and support

• Quality first teaching designed to challenge, inspire and ensure progression

• An interesting and relevant course for the future

We do regular film screening across KS3 and KS4.

Do have a look at our Curriculum Map in 'What we teach and when we teach it' for more Enrichment Activities that we offer.

Geography is a multifaceted and exciting subject to learn about. At DVHS, students are given many opportunities to explore their personal geography and delve into all the factors that encompass what Geography is around the world. The study of Geography at DVHS provides students with a gateway into the rest of the world, which they may not otherwise experience. At DVHS, we aim to inspire young geographers and encourage them to be inquisitive. Geography allows the students to be globally engaged and culturally agile as they analyse the world’s ever-changing landscapes and seek to find solutions for a diverse range of global issues. From changing climates, social inequalities to retreating coastlines – DVHS students will investigate them all. We aim to ensure that our students appreciate and understand the world in which they live. The curriculum is designed for students of all abilities and backgrounds to expand their experiences of the world, enhance their geographical skills and develop their cultural capital. Student will become confident in articulating their knowledge and opinions on varying global matters.

Geography provides multiple skills that enable pathway to a plethora of potential careers. Geographers have the highest percentages of successful appointments into full-time employment fifteen months after graduation with about 75% of those being professional-level jobs. Here are some of the professions in which you will find our graduates: Social enterprise organisations; Teachers, Senior NGO administrators, Urban planners; Social workers; Environmental consultants; Civil servants, Members of Parliament; Entrepreneurs; Actors and comedians; Journalists; Political activists; Television presenters; Media production; Lawyers; Environmental activists; Medical doctors and other health professionals; Speech Writers; Water and energy industry; United Nations organisations; Health policy officials; Business and finance consultants; Sports professionals and Armed forces personnel.

At Key Stage 3, our inclusive Geography Mastery curriculum exists to be challenging, thought-provoking and empowering. By the end of KS3 students will be better equipped to take part in the big conversations about the world and apply their knowledge to debate about its possible futures. Additionally, it will provide them with the foundational skills to progress in their Geography journey to GCSE and to a higher level of education elsewhere after the 5 years at DVHS.

In year 7, we explore the geography of our local community of Darwen before broadening the scale to regional and national. Our overarching question in year 7 is “What are the key physical and human processes of our planet?”. We look at what geography means to us as individuals and develop our personal geography in the first unit of Geography and Me. We continue to build on the foundational skills of geography by exploring Our Planet in Autumn Term two. In the spring and summer term we move onto understanding how both the physical and human world interact and influence one another in the UK as we move onto the units of Resources and Trade, Brilliant Biomes, Fantastic UK Landscapes and Controversial Coasts.

In year 8, we explore the geography of the physical world and how populations have both positive and negative influences on our environment. Our overarching question in year is “Does humanity live sustainably with the environment?”. We look at how rivers move along their course and shape the land, before analysing how these rivers influence neighbouring populations in our first unit, River Rivals. We then build on the concept of humans’ demand on our Earth by exploring Food and Famine in Autumn Term two. In the spring and summer, we explore further the idea of sustainability as we study Endless Energy, Climate Change, Polar Environments and The Middle East.

In year 9, we look at our connectivity with the wider world with our overarching question “How globally connected is the world?”. In the Autumn term we explore our Global Oceans, seeking to understand how our oceans can be both dangerous yet beneficial to our global population. As we progress, we investigate our Global Economy and the Development Disparity at both local and global scales. This helps the students to understand the idea of inequality and how that looks in different places around the world.

GCSE at DVHS follows the AQA Geography specification and further delves into exciting topics of The Challenges of Natural Hazards, The Living World & Physical Changes to UK Landscapes. Urban Issues, Changing Economic World and Resource Management. Issue Evaluation & Fieldwork (a day fieldtrip included to Lytham St. Annes).

GCSE gives the students an opportunity to not only showcase the geographical skills that they have developed and embedded at KS3, but also challenges them to dig deeper, ask more questions and advance their skills to become true Geographers.

We hope to share our passion and excitement for our topical subject and instil the desire to want to explore more of our world, local or globally, and at more challenging levels of education in College and University. Geography at DVHS will give students active stewardship of their environment and help them in multiple pathways in their future.