Geography is a popular and successful subject at Merchiston. In the Department, we share a real enthusiasm for our subject and a desire to communicate this to our pupils. In studying Geography, pupils investigate the links between people and their environment at both local and international scales. The subject encompasses the natural processes that shape the planet, the cultural diversity of its inhabitants, and contemporary issues of environment and development.

We seek to engage pupils in learning Geography by encouraging them to work and think independently and by ensuring our teaching is stimulating, varied and creative. In addition, we strongly believe that fieldwork is an essential component of the subject and pupils have an opportunity to take part in a fieldwork activity in almost every year at Merchiston.

The Geography Department is housed in the new teaching facility of Mount Olympus above Evans House. The Department tries to make its teaching and learning stimulating through the use of a variety of activities and enquiry based study as well as utilising strong audio-visual and IT resources. Teachers utilise interactive white boards in each classroom and students are often involved in researching or using applications on laptops or sometimes the IT Department resources.
We are delighted by the numbers of pupils who go on to study Geography or related subjects at University. In recent years approximately 40% of pupils who have studied Geography at A-level have taken the subject or a related course at degree level. We aim to support and extend all pupils who wish to apply for Geography at University through a range of specially arranged activities including seminars, lectures and study-day visits.

Rupert Heathcote BSc: Head of Department
Mr Heathcote came to Merchiston from Fettes where he had taught Geography for 5 years and was in charge of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. He is also the Housemaster of Laidlaw North. Rupert also coaches rugby and cricket, and is very keen on outdoor pursuits, being a qualified Mountain Leader.

Tanya Bower BA, MSc, DPhil
After lecturing at the School of Oriental and African Studies, Kings College, London, and Keele Universities, Dr Bower trained as a teacher at the University of Edinburgh. She has written two books and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and has taught at Scottish schools including Glenalmond and St George's. Tanya also teaches some Biology and assists with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, CCF, and Scottish Dancing.

Ben Hall BSc
Mr Hall is a graduate of Strathclyde University. He spent 8 years teaching in New Zealand before returning with his young family to join Merchiston in 2012. He has many sporting interests, and is an experienced rugby coach, having coached the 1st XV at his last school in New Zealand.

The Geography Department moved to a shared facility with Classics, Economics and Masterchef above Evans House in September 2011. The Department tries to make its teaching and learning stimulating through the use of a variety of activities and enquiry based study as well as utilising strong audio-visual and IT resources.

The new department has interactive white boards in all three teaching rooms and is developing its use of GIS software, and use of personal laptops in the department. Other new displays include extensive wall displays, a giant hanging world globe and hardware models - some of which are interactive.

Lower School
The curriculum for I-IV Forms is based upon the Heinemann Geography 360o course. This gives due concern to the requirements of the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence where Geography is covered in the social studies experience and outcomes curriculum area.

Specific resources for all years are available in the Geography 360 and accompanying skills books and online test modules. Throughout the pupil books there are activities which challenge the pupils to think about what they are learning and the skills required to do so. There is an increasing emphasis on practical learning through fieldwork in the local area and further a field and internet research, and the use of IT skills is an important part of the courses, particularly in the IV form where it is delivered through the context of geography topics and projects.

Shell and V Form
The curriculum for Shell and V forms currently follows the new AQA Geography GCSE Syllabus A (specification 4032).  The syllabus allows for 25% of the marks for coursework (a geographical investigation), and 75% of marks by two terminal examination papers, which are tiered. The Department tries to undertake fieldwork whenever possible, utilising the double-lesson slot in the weekly timetable as well as day trips. Pupils subscribe to the Wide World GCSE magazine. 

VI Form
Pupils who opt to study Geography in the VI form follow the contemporary Edexcel Advanced Subsidiary/ Advanced GCE specifications (code 8GE01 and 8GE02). There is an extensive fieldwork programme organised and run by the Department, to enable pupils to explore and develop themes discussed in the classroom. Pupils attend external lectures and workshops and subscribe to the Geography review magazine. The subject is a popular option at A level and a large number go onto read Geography or related courses at University.

Fieldwork and the enquiry approach to learning plays a strong role in the teaching of the subject at every level. This takes places in the local area of Colinton, within Edinburgh and the Lothian region and further afield in the Cairngorms, Fife, the Borders and north of England. There is also a regular overseas fieldtrip to Iceland for the IV form and Shell year groups.

Fieldtrips
I Form    - School grounds and Colinton
II Form    - Gullane to North Berwick coastline
III Form - River Braidburn, Edinburgh
IV Form - Southern Uplands
GCSE - Edinburgh and Lothian area and local coastal and river locations
VI Form - Leith, Lothian Coast, Borders, Morecambe, South Cumbria
Overseas - IV form and Shell expedition to Iceland, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.

Wide World Quiz
All students studying Geography in the II, III and IV form take part in a year group Wide World Quiz. The aim of the quiz is to improve the pupils' sense of place in the world around them through an enjoyable activity with the potential to win prizes for high scores.

The Department also enters a school Geography team into the SAGT WorldWise Quiz which is open to teams from secondary schools in Scotland.