Geography
Intent
We intend for all our pupils to have:
- An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
- An excellent understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected and how much human and physical environments are interrelated.
- An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
- Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills and use effective analytical and presentational techniques.
- The ability to reach clear conclusions and develop a reasoned argument to explain findings.
- Significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity as shown in interpretations and representations of the subject matter.
- Highly developed and frequently utilised fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
- A passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.
- The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.
- To foster a love of our planet and to explore and discover ways to be 'stewards of creation.'
Implementation
In the Early Years it is the first opportunity to see how a child interacts with their environment and how the environment influences them. Staff follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework which aims to guide children, to make sense of their physical world and their community by allowing them to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment – this is the first step of becoming a geographer.
In KS1 and KS2, Teachers maintain strong links to the National Curriculum guidelines to ensure all aspects, knowledge and skills of Geography are being taught across all year groups.
- Through quality first teaching, children will build their substantive geographical knowledge including: locational knowledge, place knowledge and understanding, knowledge of environmental, physical and human geography processes, geographical skills.
- Build geographical expertise from their local area to the wider world. This includes locational knowledge, understanding of human and physical features and geographical and fieldwork techniques.
- Opportunities to develop their skills and fieldwork using maps and atlases (both physical and digital) will be provided for all pupils. Fieldwork allows pupils to apply geographical skills in a real-life setting and explore their local area and the features within it. We will develop deep subject knowledge and key skills while differentiating work for all abilities.
- The geography curriculum identifies sufficient breadth of content and ensures that pupils learn this in sufficient depth.
- Children will be taught to ‘think like Geographers’ to ensure children will: use what they know from one context to another; to think of alternative futures; and consider the influence on decisions that will be made.
- From EYFS up to the end of KS2, pupils will be taught various geographical terms both in our local area and worldwide.
- Children will have opportunities to find ways to protect and improve their environment.
- Teachers have good subject knowledge of the topic they are teaching.
Impact
At St. George’s Catholic School, the impact of quality first teaching in Geography will foster a love and enthusiasm for the subject.
- Well-constructed and well-taught lessons provide pupils with opportunities to research and apply skills independently – skills essential for lifelong learning.
- Book scrutiny indicates high expectations and reflect what pupils have learned to a good/very good standard. All learning builds towards clearly defined end points that are met.
- Lesson recaps and quizzes will ensure children retain important knowledge from each lesson.
- Learning Walks with SLT and governors will highlight strengths and identify any weakness which may need addressing.
- Pupils will leave KS2 with a strong knowledge of their local area and a confidence of the location of other countries and cities around the world. All pupils will be able to discuss and recall a variety of events and where they happened in the world, as well as explain aspects of human and physical geography and confidently use maps and atlases (physical and digital).
- The organisation of the curriculum builds knowledge so that pupils can draw on it in future learning. Pupils are increasingly able to apply generalisations to understand the world around them.
- Knowledge and skills will have developed progressively to not only enable them to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum but to prepare pupils to become competent geographers in secondary education. We want pupils to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.
- Children will exhibit a desire to care for our world and take practical steps to ensure we live in more sustainable environment.
