The Geography courses followed deal with the important aspects of modern Geography. It concerns our human endeavour to make the most effective use of world resources and to live in harmony with the environment. All students at Key Stage 3 follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum; students at GCSE level follow OCR Syllabus B while students at AS/A2 level follow the CCEA courses.

A great emphasis is placed on using a wide variety of teaching methods and strategies. All students undertake fieldwork, either within the extensive school grounds or further a field. Where possible small fieldwork observation exercises have been built into Programmes of Study. There is a strong emphasis on practical work, including map analysis, satellite imagery and the use of ICT. The Department encourages positive achievement through a reward system.

Staff within the Geography Department has been actively involved in the Eco-Unesco Young Environmentalist Awards programme since 2004.

In that year a group of Year 8 pupils achieved the Overall Junior Award for their project on bird life within the school grounds. Part of that project involved the construction and erection of bird nesting boxes in the school grounds. Into one of these nest boxes was placed a miniature camera.

This success was followed in 2005 with the top award in the “Energy” category. A group of Year 11 students investigated patterns of energy use/ misuse within the school buildings and organised an energy awareness campaign among staff and pupils.

Recycling was the theme chosen for the 2007 entry to the competition and once again the top award was secured. Members of the newly formed Environmental Club chose to recycle old CD’s into Christmas decorations, construct a Christmas tree from recycled plastic bottles and design and build a working lamp from recycled wooden coat hangers, plastic bottles and old mobile phone chargers. It was this last invention that really caught the attention of the judging panel and clinched the overall award. At the award ceremony the girls became something of celebrities doing interviews for radio and television.

This success certainly inspired the Club to enter the 2008 competition – and again, almost unbelievably achieving the Overall Junior Award. Members of the Environmental Club joined forces with the Science Club on a project called “Bee Beautiful”. This project focused on the plight of the honey bee in Ireland and its declining numbers. A wild garden was developed within the school grounds, an awareness campaign initiated and the pupils made beauty products from locally produced beeswax.

An award of any kind seemed an unrealistic goal of the 2009 entry, given the record of success after success since 2004. However, once again, members of the club under the guidance of Miss Hughes and Miss Mone achieved the top honour!! Overall winners in Ireland for the 4th occasion since 2004 – they could hardly believe it. The title of the project was “Food Miles Munch to beat the Credit Crunch”. This project took two very topical issues and transformed them into a winner. A vegetable garden was made and a campaign got underway to encourage students and staff to eat local produce.

Students really do have a real opportunity outside the classroom to showcase their talents. The trip to the Awards Ceremony in the Mansion House, Dublin to collect prestigious titles has become something of a ritual. It also has demonstrated to the rest of the country that sustainability is alive and well in Armagh.

Geography Links of Interest

Geography Work Sheets