Geography *
Geography is the study of relationships between physical and human phenomena that give rise to spatial patterns on the surface of the earth.
Whilst other disciplines may study concepts such as landscape, flora and fauna, the atmosphere, people and culture, the built environment and political territories, geography is the only discipline that concerns itself with the relationships between these resulting in spatial differentiation.
Geography provides students with the means to think about the world in new ways. We call this thinking geographically. Thinking geographically helps in the pursuit of truth. It is the pursuit of truth which distinguishes disciplinary knowledge from everyday social and cultural knowledge and is a priority for our curriculum.
Geography is uniquely placed to empower students from all backgrounds through developing a multifaceted view of the world and their place within it (Milner, Robinson and Garcia, 2021); the power of diversity in geography serves to tackle stereotypes and improve representation of places and people (Milner, Robinson and Garcia, 2021).
Geography is, in its simplest form, a desire for humankind to interact, describe and understand the world around us. As the world shifts and evolves at an increasing pace so too must its inhabitants. It is therefore the intention of our Geography curriculum to inspire and inform young global citizens. In service of equipping our students with the knowledge and skills to encounter and experience our diverse planet, we have incorporated the ‘big ideas’ of Geomorphology, Climate, Human/Physical Interactions, Sustainability and Development.
Our curriculum aims to create a sense of place outside of everyday lived experience. This is central to the study of Geography and is created through understanding the relationship between physical processes and human interactions. These geographical concepts will allow our students to be introduced to geopolitical powers such as the conflict of the Gaza Strip, the disappearing islands of Kiribati and the interdependence of nations. We pride ourselves on introducing our students to the traditions of geographical academia grounded in exploration and fieldwork. Fieldwork will allow a first-hand experience of geomorphic processes and an opportunity to explore perception and place.
Through studying Geography at HAOC students will have a fundamental understanding of the world around them. They will be informed citizens of the planet who have learnt about space and place outside of their lived experience. They will be ambassadors for sustainable living and have a geopolitical understanding promoting tolerance, mutual respect and democracy. This cultural capital will make our geographers will be academically successful and well-informed with powerful knowledge, empowering them to achieve.