Geography

Teachers: Ms. Montgomery (HoD), Mr. Turner, Ms. Garvin, Mr. Paton

Facilities 
There are three specialist classrooms in the geography department, each containing a computer and data projector. A Television and DVD/Video unit is also available. The three classrooms share a colour printer and an overhead projector. Practical equipment is available for any fieldwork to be carried out such as coursework for GCSE/A level classes. The students can also access the school's MET weather station.

KS3
Geography is taught throughout the school, with three periods being devoted to it at Key Stage 3. A mixture of four and five periods per week is given to the subject at GCSE and eight periods a week at AS and A2 level. In sixth-form the course is taught by two teachers, based on their areas of expertise, so pupils benefit from in-depth teaching.

The Key Stage 3 course forms a basis for geography further up the school. In Form 1 the focus is on map skills, Settlement and Weather. Second Form includes studies of Population, Industry and Ecosystems, whilst Third Form considers issues of Third World Development, the Environment and Natural Hazards.

Pupils are encouraged to develop independent research skills and much use is made of ICT at every appropriate opportunity. The department hopes to build on this aspect and to develop the use of fieldwork, particularly at Key Stage 3 level.

GCSE & A-Level
Key stage 4 fieldtrips have included a study of a peatland and woodland ecosystem at Peatlands Park, an examination of urban regeneration in the Laganside area of Belfast and an urban study of Lisburn. A three day residential fieldtrip to Magilligan organised for sixth form geographers. AS pupils undertake a variety of fieldwork in preparation for their Module 3 examination and their Module 6 A2 paper. This includes an urban study of Coleraine, a river study of the Curly Burn tributary and an analysis of vegetation succession at the Umbra dunes, Beione. 

Geography is a useful subject, in that it encompasses the science subjects and the arts subjects. Its diverse nature allows for a wide range of skills to be developed. These include preparation and collection of data, presenting and interpreting data, writing up reports, teamwork, decision making, as well as the use of ICT. In essence, geography enables pupils to interpret the world they see today while preparing them to live in a world that will be different in future.