Geography Intent

At St Mary of Charity Primary School, our Geography curriculum provides children with an opportunity to explore their own identity, where they come from and what is in our local community, while allowing progression of pupil’s knowledge and skills. From this we then look outwards and celebrate Britain, Europe and the wider world. The focus on the teaching of geographical vocabulary gives children the confidence to locate, describe and compare different locations. We also embed the knowledge and skills taught in Computing, English and Maths to support children to read maps, gather information/data, provide opportunities for children to read and write at length and to perform fieldwork relevant to their topic. Active discussions act as a platform for children to question the world around them and think about how we can be responsible for looking after and improving our environment.

Geography Implementation

To achieve our intent, we have designed a Geography curriculum that is carefully sequenced, progressive and relevant to our pupils' interests and experiences. Lessons are planned and delivered to enable all children in the class to access and make appropriate progress in Geography. Our implementation strategy focuses on the following key areas:

Curriculum Design

We have developed a well-structured curriculum that uses the National Curriculum framework for 2014 as the basis for its curriculum planning and progression steps in Geography. Our curriculum is designed to build upon prior knowledge and skills, ensuring a logical progression from Early Years Foundation Stage to Key Stage 2. We also consider the local area (Faversham) as a starting point for learning, gradually expanding to regional, national, and global scales.

Knowledge and Skills Development

Our curriculum places equal emphasis on developing both geographical knowledge and skills. We ensure that our pupils acquire a strong foundation of subject-specific knowledge by covering key geographical concepts, including location, place, human and physical processes, and environmental interactions. We also provide opportunities for pupils to develop and apply a range of geographical skills, such as map reading, data interpretation, and fieldwork techniques.

We have created Knowledge Organisers for each Geography unit and these are shared with pupils as well as parents and carers (through the termly curriculum newsletter) so that they are aware of the key learning intentions and vocabulary.

Cross-Curricular Links

We actively promote cross-curricular links to enhance learning and make connections between Geography and other subjects. We strive to integrate Geography with subjects such as History, Science, Art, and English, allowing pupils to explore topics from multiple perspectives and understand the interconnected nature of knowledge.

Fieldwork and Enrichment Opportunities

We believe that fieldwork is a vital aspect of Geography learning. We provide regular opportunities for pupils to engage in fieldwork experiences, enabling them to apply their geographical knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. We also organise enrichment activities, such as visiting geographical landmarks, inviting guest speakers, and engaging with digital resources (such as Digimaps), to broaden pupils' experiences and deepen their understanding.

Language Development and Cultural Awareness

We recognise the importance of language development and cultural awareness in Geography. We provide opportunities for pupils to use subject-specific vocabulary accurately and confidently. We also celebrate the cultural diversity within our school community, encouraging pupils to explore different cultures, traditions, and perspectives through their geographical learning.

Geography Impact

The impact of our Geography is monitored in various ways. All skills are monitored through data entry and exit points, lesson observations, pupil voice and book looks to ensure consistency and progression throughout the school in Geography. Pupils leave 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.