Geography Curriculum

The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

Acts 17:24

Our Geography Vision (Intent)

At St Joseph’s, we aim to provide a geography curriculum which will inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. As pupils 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. All pupils will benefit from teaching and learning that is based upon the programmes of study for geography which are set out in the National Curriculum.

At St Joseph’s we aim:

1. To stimulate pupils’ interest and to help them foster a sense of wonder in the world around them whilst developing an informed concern for the quality of the environment.

2. To help pupils acquire a wide range of geographical knowledge and skills to enable them to understand the relationship between Earth and its people.

3. To help pupils understand that the character of places derives from the interaction of people and environment, by increasing their knowledge about the location of the physical and human features of the Earth and the processes, systems and interrelations that create and influence them

4. To develop pupils’ knowledge of the location of different places including their physical and human characteristics and how these provide context for understanding their geography.

5. To enable children to understand how the Earth’s features are shaped, and change over time.

6. To help pupils understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they change over time

7. To develop the geographical skills needed to collect and analyse information gathered through first hand experiences of the environment and to carry out geographical enquiries.

8. To enable pupils to interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and recording.

9. To use geography to develop pupils' thinking skills, skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT and to promote pupils' awareness and understanding of gender, cultural, spiritual and moral issues.

Our Geography Practice (Implementation)

Throughout school we use the National Curriculum to plan objectives. We then use Cornerstones Curriculum to plan lessons and activities, as well as using a wide range of teaching and learning resources. Geography is covered, and children are fully immersed, through topic based learning where appropriate:

At St Joseph’s, we believe that Geography is effective when:

1. It is underpinned by the study of real places and discovery of how the people living there are influenced by and effect the environment of those places

2. Pupils’ knowledge and geographical understanding is developed by first immersing them in the area where they live and then by gradually widening their horizons and increasing their awareness of their town, their region, their nation, other lands and continents.

3. Teaching and learning uses exciting first-hand experiences, imaginative resources and ICT to build pupils’ with knowledge about different places, peoples, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

4. The National Curriculum is used as the basis for planning in Geography. The NC programme of study is adapted to suit our local context and made relevant for the children. The scheme of work is designed so that pupils are increasingly challenged as they move through the school.

5. School fieldwork and first-hand experience is fundamental to the teaching and learning of geography and where appropriate, all pupils will be given the opportunity to go out into the local and wider environment to research and discover the world in which they live.

6. Research projects in geography are linked to other core and foundation subjects, particularly history, RE, art and science and meaningful connections will be made as pupils increase their knowledge, skills and understanding of the world.

7. Assessment is based on key skills and essential knowledge and understanding within the Geography NC programme of study. Work from Y1 to Y6 will be built up to show examples of the range of work done and evidence of progression.

Our Geography Outcomes (Impact)

Geography will be fun and it will inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. It will increase their knowledge and understanding of the world and it will be used to promote excellence and enjoyment. It will be linked with other subjects and it will have a strong presence in the ethos of the school through art, displays, performances, music, drama and assemblies. We will make the world our classroom to enrich the lives of our pupils. This policy should read in conjunction with other key policies including, keeping children safe, school visits, citizenship, cultural diversity, race and equality, gender and SEND.