Geography Intent, Implementation & Impact

Intent

Our Geography curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Children investigate a range of places- both in the United Kingdom and abroad- to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area, what makes it special and unique. We also develop the children’s ability to apply geographical skills to enable them to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences.

Through high quality teaching, we develop the following essential characteristics of geographers:

• An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like, both in the United Kingdom and the wider world;
• A comprehensive understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected;
• An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary;
• Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills, as well as effective presentation techniques;
• The ability to reach clear conclusions and explain their findings;
• Excellent field work skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques;
• The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and then environment;
• A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here.

Implementation

Geography is sometimes used as a topic focus for the half term as a key topic (as is History) but we also aim to ensure that it is integrated into other areas of the curriculum and the basic skills are taught throughout the year through cross curricular work. Our Geography curriculum aims to excite the children and allow them to develop their skills as geographers. The Geography curriculum is planned so that there are opportunities for cross curricular links to be made to ensure the children have occasions where by they can apply their knowledge and understanding.

Local heritage and cultural links have also been planned explicitly. English, Maths and ICT skills are taught during discrete lessons but are revisited in geography so children can apply and embed the skills they have learnt in a purposeful context.

The programmes of study are carefully planned and delivered showing progression, enabling our pupils to develop their own geographical skills and knowledge which can then be transferred to other curriculum areas.

Lessons will allow the practical development of skills such as collecting and analysing data, reading maps, atlases, globes, aerial pictures and digital maps.

We plan visits and visitors to provide first-hand experiences for the children to support and develop their learning - often linked to geography. We recognise that to have impact the visits must be clearly linked to geographical knowledge to be acquired and provide the opportunity for children to better understand the knowledge or apply skills.

Impact

• Opportunities for children to explore the outdoor learning environments, both within the school grounds and local community   
• Continued training and support for teachers ensuring they are the experts in the subjects that they teach   
• There will be a clear progression of skills across EYFS, Key Stage 1 and 2 that builds on prior knowledge that can be demonstrated in writing books and class floor books and shows good or better progress in geography from their starting points.  
• Children will develop their practical and geographical enquiry skills.
• Children will have a good understanding of key geographical vocabulary and concepts across the three geographical strands:
  • location and place 
  • human and physical knowledge
  • geographical skills and fieldwork
• Our children will be confident geographers and be able to clearly discuss their learning from past and current topics, as well as explain their next steps   
• Out-of-class opportunities ensure geography is ongoing and embedded as part of the Egerton ethos, for example enabling children to take responsibility for looking after their environments