GEOGRAPHY

Intent 

Our Geography curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Children investigate a range of places – both in Britain and abroad – to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about a range of locations. By studying the local area, children will be able to firmly root their Geographical learning in real world examples; by studying the wider world, we aim to expand the students’ horizons, opening them up to new and unfamiliar locations; finally, by studying areas that reflect our students’ backgrounds, like East Africa and the forests of Poland, we ensure that we develop our students’ understanding of their heritage and empower them, by reflecting their families’ lives in their learning. We also develop the children’s ability to apply geographical skills, enabling them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.

Implementation 

The Geography Curriculum follows a simple model:   

1. Breadth of Study – the topics pupils will study 

2. Threshold Concepts – the ‘big ideas’ in geography that pupils will explore through every topic.   

• Investigate Places  

• Investigate Patterns  

• Communicate Geographically  

    3. Milestones – the goals pupils should reach to show that they are meeting the expectations of the curriculum.  

    4. Knowledge Categories - areas of study to strengthen and contextualise the concepts.   

• Location (Global Positions)   

• Physical Features (Natural aspects of Environments)   

• Human Features (Man-made aspects of Environments)  

• Diversity (Global and Local differences of Environment)  

• Physical Processes (The Processes that Create Physical Features)  

• Human Processes (Man-Made Effects on the Environment)  

• Techniques (Ways of Finding Out and Communicating Geographical Information) 

    5.Pop Tasks  - Challenging independent assessments that act as markers of Progress at the end of units.   

Impact

Through high quality teaching, we develop the following essential characteristics of geographers:    

• A strong knowledge of location, both in the United Kingdom and the wider world, and an understanding of key human and physical features around the world;    

• A comprehensive understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected;    

• An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary;    

• Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills, as well as effective presentation techniques;    

• The ability to reach clear conclusions and explain their findings;   

• An ability to apply fieldwork skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques;    

• The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and the environment;   

• A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here.