Why study geography at Warminster?

Geography has never been more relevant than it is today. Sustainable development, climate change, biodiversity loss, traffic congestion, environmental degradation, natural hazards' all headlines in the news today and undoubtedly in the future. The Geography Department at Warminster aims to foster pupils' knowledge and understanding of the world around them, combining the environmental, scientific, social, economic, political and historical aspects of the subject with contemporary case studies from the local to the global scale.

The Department has three specialist rooms with an interactive whiteboard, an additional mounted data projector and an expanding resource base of Ordnance Survey maps, geographical journals, fieldwork equipment, river flume and mini-rainforest ecosystem, complete with giant millipedes! It is a lively, friendly and creative department of three specialist staff, supported by a number of experienced part-time geographers on field visits.

All pupils study geography in mixed ability classes at Key Stage 3. Year 7 and Year 8 lessons are supported by the excellent Oxford University Press textbooks 'Geog Dot 1, 2 & 3', the first of which has successfully been introduced in the Preparatory School in Year 6. This supports the continuity and progression between the two schools and allows pupils in Year 9 the freedom to study more unusual topics such as tsunamis, supervolcanoes and the geography of disease.

Geography is a popular GCSE option in which students follow the AQA syllabus, chosen for its excellent combination of physical geography, human geography and environmental issues. 6^th Form Geographers can study the broad and technically challenging International Baccalaureate course or the very contemporary and dynamic Edexcel 'B' A Level course.

Whatever the age or ability of the pupils, the department aims to develop the knowledge and understanding of place, people and the natural environment, whilst considering the causes and consequences of change through innovative and relevant teaching, both in the classroom and out in the field. Each year group has the opportunity to observe and engage with their surroundings on field trips in the region. This supports the department's objective of developing pupils' qualitative and quantitative data collection, recording, presentation and analytical skills, recognised as essential skills in the work place and in academia.