Geography

Aims 

We provide a high-quality geography education that inspires in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching will equip all our children with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As our children progress, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. Knowledge and understanding of sustainability and how human interaction affects this is key. Geography teaching is about developing an understanding of our world, primarily through experience, investigation and learning from primary and secondary sources.

Our geography curriculum aims to ensure that all pupils  develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes. They will understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.

The curriculum will ensure our children are competent in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes. They will interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Our children will think creatively about Geography and enjoy trying to make sense of phenomena. They will develop language skills through talking about their work and presenting their own ideas using sustained and systematic writing of different kinds. They will use discussion to remedy misconceptions to build a secure foundation and use geographic and mathematical language including technical vocabulary. They will have opportunities to draw diagrams and charts to communicate geographic ideas and research and extract information from sources such as reference books, the internet and video clips. Our children will develop a respect for the environment and for their own health and safety while working with others, listening to their ideas and treating these with respect.

Our teachers will provide opportunities for children to undertake map work and take part in field work, covering aspects of physical and human environments. They will learn from places of geographical interest through educational visits as well as learn from visiting speakers and from formal presentations (end of term projects) by their peers. Our children will articulate their geographical learning through description, writing summaries and personal accounts, speaking and listening e.g. discussion and debate, make use of photographs, video clips and the internet. They will have opportunities to record their findings in a variety of ways, handle and interpret data and take part in role play, educational games or simulations. They will use information technology and engage in a variety of practical activities.

Geography Curriculum Policy