The teaching of Geography at Deal Parochial CEP Primary School mirrors the underpinning vision shared by all at the school – to be the very best they can be.  We aim to prepare our pupils for their future lives and enable them to be able to contribute positively to society.  Through Geography, pupils will develop a growing understanding of their locality and the wider world in order to explore a sense of place and belonging.  They will use a range of vocabulary and skills to value and understand our diverse, global community. 

We follow the national curriculum for geography. The national curriculum for geography 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
• 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
• 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
• - interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• - communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

We use a range of resources, including the Collins scheme, to tailor the learning to our children and enable them to complete the learning for every year group.

Intention

In Geography, our school aims:

• To develop a fun, practical and engaging high-quality curriculum that inspires the next generation to succeed and excel in geography.
• To 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.
• To provide children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area so that they can develop of real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special.
• To develop fieldwork skills and use these to extend local knowledge through local fieldwork studies.
• To develop geographical skills to enable pupils to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.
• To develop a knowledge of where places are and what they are like, in both Britain and the wider world.
• To develop geographical enquiry and questioning skills to reach clear conclusions and explain their findings.

Implementation

We will do this by:

• Ensuring that geographical knowledge and skills are built on year on year to deepen and challenge our learners.
• Adopt an enquiry-focused approach to learning and teaching in geography, which develops pupils as young geographers. Learning is structured through big question led enquiries about relevant topics, places and themes.
• Curriculum is ‘knowledge rich’, not ‘content heavy’ to allow pupils to master and apply critical thinking skills, specialised vocabulary and a grasp of subject concepts.  Interactive and practical opportunities for children to work independently, in pairs or groups, both inside and outside the classroom (including the local area).
• Using a clear and effective scheme of work that provides coverage in line with the National Curriculum.
• Ensuring teaching and learning facilitates progression across all key stages.
• Ensuring that new and key vocabulary and challenging concepts are introduced through direct teaching.
• Making links to cross-curricular topics or current world issues when appropriate.
• Using trips, outdoor learning and fieldwork to promote the profile of geography.

Impact

The result of this is:

• An engaging and high-quality geography education that provides children with the foundations for understanding the world.
• Curriculum aims will be achieved while enjoying and exploring their own interests in these areas where appropriate.
• Outcomes evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge.
• Development and application of key skills, supported by fieldwork.
• Pupils will be able to question ideas and reflect on knowledge.
• An interest in global environmental issues and how to protect and shape the world we share.

Geography Curriculum Overview

These units may be taught in any term within the year group.

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