Prep School
What's New?
Contact Us
Geography
‘Geography is a living, breathing subject, constantly adapting itself to change. It is dynamic and relevant. For me, geography is a great adventure with a purpose.’
Sir Michael Palin (Honorary Vice President of the Royal Geographical Society)
The sentiment expressed in Michael Palin’s words is central to the philosophy of the Geography Department; geography should encourage pupils to think independently, building intellectually curious life-long learners. Pupils follow a fun, yet rigorous, curriculum. Developing pupils’ ability to think – not just to learn facts – is integral to our approach. In a rapidly changing world, the ability to problem-solve and think creatively are increasingly valuable.
In the Early Years, pupils begin to learn about the weather and develop an appreciation of the natural environment during regular nature walks. As pupils move through the Pre-Prep, they build up specific geographical skills, including map-reading; they also begin to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of other cultures.
On entering the Prep School, geography begins to be taught by a specialist teacher. We begin by consolidating what the pupils have learned already and enhance their overall geographical understanding. Pupils study topics as varied as water scarcity in the Middle East to environmental degradation and Global Warming. From Year 6 onwards, pupils follow the Common Entrance syllabus. Most of our pupils sit entrance exams in Year 8, with some sitting for scholarships. The level of geographical skills, knowledge and understanding exceed what is expected nationally and help prepare our pupils to achieve the very best grades at GCSE and A level.
Fieldwork is an integral part of the curriculum. Not only do pupils learn valuable data-collection techniques but they also learn how to take responsibility and build valuable teamwork skills. From investigating the micro-climate of the School grounds to evaluating coastal erosion and management at Walton-on-the Naze, the fieldwork provision enables pupils to put their learning to the test in the real world, and we sometimes go abroad to broaden our geographical understanding.
