Meeting Gatsby Benchmark 4 in KS3 Geography

Bringing Human Geography to Life: Connecting KS3 Learning with Real Careers

This is the first in a discrete series of ideas and resources to help subject teachers and home educators meet aspects of the National Curriculum AND to support careers learning and thus Gatsby Benchmark 4

Geography is the subject that helps young people see how the world fits together be they people, places, or possibilities. However, for careers leaders and home educators, it’s also a rich opportunity to show how classroom learning links directly to future jobs and thus helps meet GB4.

At Key Stage 3, students explore key themes in human geography such as population and urbanisation, economic activity, and the use of natural resources. Each of these topics develops vital skills that underpin a wide range of careers. Here’s how to make those links visible and meaningful.

Photo by Chan on Unsplash

Using the KS3 National Curriculum for Geography one of the objectives is":-

…understand, through the use of detailed place-based exemplars at a variety of scales, the key processes in:…

human geography relating to: population and urbanisation; international development; economic activity in the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary sectors; and the use of natural resources

This blog and the accompanying example lesson plan (for paid subscribers only) will help meet this criteria without onerous extra work for the subject teacher or homeschooling parent.

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1. Population and Urbanisation: Who Shapes Our Cities?

When students study where and why people live, migrate, or build cities, they’re thinking like urban planners, housing officers, and transport analysts. They’re also using data to make sense of complex patterns, this is a key employability skill, that is linked to the Skillsbuilder framework Step 10

Job links to explore:

• Urban planner or town planner

• Housing or transport officer

• Environmental consultant

• GIS (Geographic Information Systems) analyst

• Demographer or census data specialist

Classroom or home activity:
Ask students to research how their nearest town or city has changed over time using old maps or online data (for example, Google Earth’s historical imagery). Then, discuss what jobs might have been involved in planning those changes, be they architects. transport planners or waste management teams.

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2. Economic Activity: Understanding the Four Sectors

Teaching students about the primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary sectors helps them grasp how economies function, it also fits neatly into Business Studies, and helps them understand how their future work will fit into that system. Excuse me for teaching Grandma to suck eggs here but I will outline the four areas just for clarity.

• Primary E.G. farming, mining, fishing shows the start of the supply chain.

• Secondary manufacturing and construction adds value.

• Tertiary services like health, retail, and transport connect people and goods.

• Quaternary technology, research, and design drives innovation.

Some ideas for job links to explore:

• Renewable energy engineer

• Logistics manager

• Software developer

• Product designer

• Agricultural scientist

• Manufacturing technician

Quick discussion prompt:
Give students a list of everyday items — like a smartphone, a loaf of bread, or a pair of trainers and ask them to identify which sectors were involved in producing and delivering them. It’s a simple way to show how interconnected work really is.

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3. Natural Resources: From Earth to Everyday Life

Learning about the extraction and use of natural resources helps students think critically about sustainability, global trade, and ethics, all of which are increasingly valued in modern careers.

Job links to explore:

• Environmental scientist

• Energy analyst

• Sustainability officer

• Recycling manager

• Water resource engineer

Home or classroom idea:
Invite students to trace the “life story” of a common object, something they will see daily, like a tin of beans or a T-shirt. Where did its materials come from? How far did it travel? What impact did it have along the way? This not only builds awareness of supply chains but introduces roles in sustainability, logistics, and corporate responsibility.

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4. Making Career Connections Explicit

Photo by israel palacio on Unsplash

Careers learning in Geography doesn’t have to be a bolt-on. Try weaving short, meaningful conversations into lessons:

• “Who might use this data in their job?”

• “What skills are we practising that employers value?”

• “How could understanding population change help someone working in healthcare or marketing?”

You could also use career spotlights short case studies or video clips from organisations like BBC Bitesize Careers, National Geographic Education, or My World of Work (Scotland does some great careers resources for pupils online) to bring real voices into the room.

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5. Why It Matters

Understanding human geography helps students connect local experiences to global challenges, some of which your students will be affected by, from managing housing shortages to the effects of and responding to climate change. More importantly, it helps them see that their classroom learning has purpose. They’re not just studying maps and migration patterns; they’re developing skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, data analysis, and communication, all core to the world of work, communicate this fact to your pupils to help support their buy in.

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In short:
Human geography is more than a subject; it’s a window into how society functions and how students might one day shape it. By linking population, economic activity, and resource use to real careers, we help young people see the value of their learning and imagine their place in the world beyond school.

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If you would like to access the lesson plan, please purchase a paid subscription, you can do so by clicking the button below. Or you can email subscribe@outstandingcareers.co.uk and be invoiced directly and at a reduced rate during October 2025