Vision 

Geography teaches an understanding of places and environments. Through their work in geography, children learn about their local area and compare their life in this area with that in other regions in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world. They learn how to draw and interpret maps and they develop the skills of research, investigation, analysis and problem-solving. Through their growing knowledge and understanding of human geography, children gain an appreciation of life in other cultures. Geography teaching also motivates children to find out about the physical world and enables them to recognize the importance of sustainable development for the future of mankind. 

“Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future.  What could be more important than that?” Michael Palin 

The aims of geography in our school are: 

• to enable children to gain knowledge and understanding of places in the world; 
• to increase children’s knowledge of other cultures and, in so doing, teach a respect and understanding of what it means to be a positive citizen in a multi-cultural country; 
• to allow children to learn graphic skills, including how to use, draw and interpret maps; 
• to enable children to know and understand environmental problems at a local, regional and global level; 
• to encourage in children a commitment to sustainable development and an appreciation of what ‘global citizenship’ means; 
• to develop a variety of other skills, including those of enquiry, problem solving, ICT, investigation and how to present their conclusions in the most appropriate way. 

Rationale 

In order to provide a broad and balanced, knowledge-rich curriculum we teach geography discretely using Pearson Primary Geography to support our pupils’ natural curiosity.  This helps us teach them about the wider world and their place within it.  We have a carefully sequenced journey of learning covering all relevant aspects of the National Curriculum, building and developing the important concepts of decision-making, change, location and place, and cause and effect, which are woven through all units. 

We use high quality work bookletss which help children confidently progress through the units and secure their learning.  They contain retrieval practise activities, knowledge organisers and support for extended writing which mean that every lesson, children learn and remember more. 

We believe this support us in inspiring the next generation of young geographers.

Please see below for an overview of the geography/history topics taught and the geography skills progression across year groups.