St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

INTENT

Through our Geography curriculum at St Joseph’s, we intend to deliver a child centred approach to geography that will inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the awe and wonder of our world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. 

Our creative approach aims to equip pupils by providing 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. We will enable pupils to develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places to deepen understanding between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.  The pupils will be given the opportunity to demonstrate geographical knowledge, understanding and skills that explain how the Earth’s features are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Our curriculum aims to teach and develop the geographical skills needed to  collect, analyse and communicate data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes; interpret geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS); communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

As a school of inclusion, we believe that all learning in geography should be adapted to the needs of all children (SEN, EAL, more able, disadvantaged) and that the curriculum should be carefully planned to take account of everyone in the class so that all can succeed.

Finally, they will be given the opportunity to understand with awe and wonder the amazing world we live in, its diversity and beauty through the exciting first-hand visits and experiences that we will give our children.

 Below is the road map outlining the topics the children study during the different years in St Joseph's

IMPLEMENTATION

In ensuring high standards of teaching and learning in geography, we implement a curriculum that is progressive throughout the whole school. Geography is taught as part of a termly or half-termly topic, focusing on knowledge and skills stated in the National Curriculum. Children are given knowledge organisers at the beginning o each topic which details key information, dates and vocabulary. This support the children with their acquisition of knowledge and is used as a reference document.

Progression is seen in the way children’s understanding of location gradually expands throughout the school - using the local area to follow maps in Key Stage 1, to comparing the similarities and differences in environments and communities in Lower Key Stage 2, through to debating world issues on pollution in Upper Key Stage 2, becoming ever more aware of the threats our planet faces, and the role they as citizens of the world have in protecting and shaping our future. 

Our children should leave our school equipped with geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world.

Through quality first teaching misconceptions are addressed within lessons and links are made to embed and deepen knowledge and understanding. Teachers undertake CPD to ensure their skills and knowledge are developed to teach accurately and with confidence.

At St Joseph’s we regularly make use of our large outdoor space in all areas of the curriculum including Geography. We place value on locational knowledge by using our local area. For example, Haworth, Saltaire, Ilkley, Malham and the Yorkshire Dales. Residential trips to Whitby and Paris give our children the opportunity to explore further afield.

Below are the knowledge and skills the children learn in Geography as they progress through school.

IMPACT

By the end of their time at St Joseph’s our children:

• are aware that they are learning geography in their lessons
• will become global citizens who value, respect and appreciate the world and its peoples
• value their own and others' surroundings and understand how they can impact our changing world
• ask questions to develop an enquiring and geographical mind
• can make links between our local and global geography
• retain the knowledge of the physical and human features of the geographical locations they have studied
• feel prepared for the next stage of their geography education 
• feel a sense of pride in themselves, their community and world