Our aims for Geography teaching (Intent)

At Barlow C. of E. Primary School we intend to provide the children with a thorough understanding of the world in which they live. We intend to develop children’s curiosity and a fascination of the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Pupils are taught about places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with teaching about the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Children learn about the location of globally significant places and develop an understanding of the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world. Pupils are equipped with an understanding of the impact of humans on the world in which they live.  Essential geographical vocabulary, map skills and geographical facts, alongside the skills of data collection, analysis, interpretation and communication, are also taught.

How we teach Geography (Implementation)

Our curriculum is shaped by our school vision which aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, and to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be.

• We engage children’s interest and imagination through our termly topic titles. For EYFS and Y1, the curriculum content aims to be broadly linked to their everyday lives, through topics such as ‘Our Local Area’ and ‘Wonderful World’ enabling children to acquire an understanding of places and people in their experience. As the children progress through school, the teaching sequences will reflect a broadening of skills knowledge and processes  to maximise learning for all children.
• We intend to use Knowledge Organisers, issued termly or half-termly, to ensure that children and parents are clear as to the expected knowledge children will acquire within each unit of study.
• Fieldwork and visitors are provided to give first hand experiences, which will enhance children’s understanding of the world within and beyond their locality.
•  We provide a four year cycle to deliver a Geography Curriculum, which reflects our mixed-age classes. We make judgements against attainment and progress expectations annually for reporting purposes, with the aim of children having mastered the relevant National Curriculum skills for their Key stages /sub-Key Stages.
• Differentiation is managed through teacher assessment.  Children with SEND will be supported appropriately to access the Curriculum, including access to trips. Able children will be assigned tasks that stretch further their understanding, to ensure sufficient demand on their intellect.

The national curriculum for geography aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
• Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
• Are competent in the geographical skills needed to: collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes.
• Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
• Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.