Geography

Intent

We want our pupils to become responsible, global citizens, who have a solid understanding of place, and appreciate and respect the diverse cultures and traditions of our world. Starting by developing a sound knowledge of locality and community, our learners develop their understanding of their effect on the wider world and their responsibility to protect it. Pupils are taught about the physical features of the Earth and about human activity, including populations, politics and economics. We use our outdoor space and opportunities to compare and contrast locations, settlements and societies. Global facts and subject specific skills combine to produce well rounded geographers.

Implementation

We use the National Curriculum and our self-developed ‘Pilgrim Progress’ assessment procedures provide support for staff and pupils to monitor their progress against the gaining of key skills and knowledge. This important spine allows us to manage our split classes and plan a clear four year cycle of topics and learning that begins with an individual child's starting point. The foundation stones to a successful education lie in the acquisition of basic skills and knowledge.

Geography at St Mark’s is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children can achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each blocked topic and theses are mapped across the school, ensuring that knowledge builds progressively and that children develop skills systematically. Existing knowledge is checked at the beginning of each topic, as we move towards the Pilgrim Progress system. Teaching is then informed and relevant to each child. Our unique location and site mean that we start with the ‘local’ and the individual when we look at Geography.

Geography and History.pdf

Geography Skills.pdf

Geography Pilgrim Progress.

Impact

Outcomes in Geography and other 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.

Starting from their early years in our school, pupils develop a deep knowledge of their locality and apply this knowledge of place to their understanding of of the wider world.

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.

Impact of the curriculum is measured by:

Assessing children’s understanding of the unit's knowledge and any key vocabulary.
Assessment of pupil discussions about their learning.
We will interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice).
Moderation staff meetings where pupil’s books are scrutinized and colleagues can give a deeper explanation of context..