Holy Trinity CofE Primary School

Holy Trinity C of E Primary School

Geography

Intent

 

At Holy Trinity we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. The geography curriculum at Holy Trinity enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills.


The curriculum is designed to ensure that teaching equips pupils 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. As pupils progress through the school, their growing knowledge about the world helps them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge and skills are progressive and are sequenced to provide the framework and approaches that provide explanation of how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.


We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives, equipping them well for further education and beyond.

Implementation
 
Geography is taught weekly in half-term blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. The key knowledge and skills that children acquire and develop throughout each unit have been mapped to ensure progression between year groups throughout the school. Teaching is also  informed by the children’s starting points and it takes account of pupil voice, incorporating children’s interests.
 
From the first lesson of every unit the children have their own copy of the Knowledge Organiser (KO) for the aspect of geography being studied and this is referred to regularly during the unit. Alongside the KO, regular low stake quizzes help to develop and consolidate existing and key  knowledge.
 
Planning is informed by and aligned with the National Curriculum and in addition, staff have access to HT geography unit plans and resources. The geography curriculum is designed to ensure appropriate diversity in the geographical aspects that children learn about. Teachers’ cater for the varying needs of all learners, differentiating activities where necessary and as appropriate, and ensuring an appropriate level of challenge. Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge.
 
The Geography provision is also well resourced and specific resources are mapped to specific year groups and topics to support effective teaching and learning. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practice.
 

 

Impact
 
Outcomes in children's humanities books, evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge relating to each of the identified national curriculum strands, as appropriate to key stage; locational knowledge, place knowledge and human and physical geography. This is in addition to the development and application of key skills, supported by fieldwork.

As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding an appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. Geographical understanding, as well as children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is further developed by the school's Christian ethos and its work with worldwide organisations and also contributes to  the celebration of the school community’s cultural diversity. 
 
 
Our Curriculum Map focuses on the following key areas:
  • Chronology
  • Significant Events
  • Cause & Consequence
  • Similarities & Differences
  • Significant People
Holy Trinity's Geography Curriculum Map
Holy Trinity's Progression of Skills in Geography: