Geography
“The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.” - Barack Obama
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Intent
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we aim to provide a high-quality Geography curriculum that inspires pupils with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We strive to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum whilst developing children's understanding of the relationships between people, places and environments at local, national and global scales. Through the United Curriculum, geography is built around the key concepts of Space and Place, Physical Processes and Human Processes, enabling pupils to make connections between different geographical themes and locations.
We seek to equip our pupils with a secure understanding of the Earth's physical features, human settlements, climate, natural resources and environmental issues, while fostering respect for different cultures, communities and ways of life. As a Catholic school, we encourage children to understand their responsibility as stewards of God's creation, developing an awareness of sustainability, environmental responsibility and global citizenship. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography through engaging classroom experiences, meaningful fieldwork and educational visits that bring learning to life.
Implementation
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Geography is taught through carefully sequenced units that progressively develop pupils' substantive and disciplinary knowledge from EYFS to Year 6. The curriculum is designed to build knowledge over time, ensuring children develop a secure understanding of location, place, physical and human geography, fieldwork and map skills. Geography is taught in discrete units and alternates with History throughout the year, allowing pupils to study each subject in depth.
Lessons are carefully planned to help pupils build upon prior learning. Map skills, fieldwork techniques and geographical enquiry develop progressively across the school, from recognising and describing features in the local area to using Ordnance Survey maps, grid references and geographical data to investigate more complex geographical questions. Fieldwork opportunities are purposeful and provide children with opportunities to observe, collect, analyse and present information about their local environment and the wider world.
The Geography curriculum is enriched through local studies, educational visits and practical investigations, enabling children to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. Through geographical enquiry and discussion, pupils learn to consider environmental issues, migration, trade, climate change and sustainability, helping them understand the interconnected nature of our world.
EYFS
Geography is taught through the Early Years Foundation Stage area of learning, Understanding the World. Children begin by exploring their immediate environment, including their homes, school and local area. Through observations, visits, stories, maps, photographs and technology, children develop an awareness of their surroundings and begin to understand similarities and differences between places. They learn to talk about where they live, recognise features of their environment and begin to ask questions about the world around them.
KS1
In Key Stage 1, pupils develop knowledge of their local area, the United Kingdom and the wider world. They learn about the world's continents and oceans, the countries and capital cities of the United Kingdom, and compare different places around the world. Pupils build a geographical vocabulary to describe human and physical features and begin using maps, globes, aerial photographs and simple fieldwork techniques. They develop their locational awareness through first-hand experiences and observations of their school and local environment.
KS2
In Key Stage 2, pupils extend their knowledge beyond the local area to study Europe, North America and South America. They investigate key geographical concepts including climate zones, biomes, rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, trade, migration and environmental change. Children use increasingly sophisticated geographical skills, including digital mapping, Ordnance Survey maps, compass points and grid references. Through fieldwork, data collection and enquiry-based learning, pupils develop the ability to ask geographical questions, analyse evidence, make comparisons and form reasoned judgements about geographical issues and challenges facing the modern world.
Impact
The impact of our Geography curriculum is that children leave St Joseph’s with a strong understanding of the world, its people and environments, and the ways in which physical and human processes shape places over time. They develop as confident geographers who can apply geographical knowledge, skills and vocabulary to explain the world around them and understand their place within it.
Children demonstrate increasing confidence in using maps, conducting fieldwork, analysing geographical information and making links between different geographical concepts. They can compare places, understand environmental challenges and appreciate the interdependence of people and environments across the globe. Through their learning, pupils develop a sense of responsibility for the world around them and an understanding of how they can contribute positively to their communities and the wider environment.
Progress is monitored through formative assessment, retrieval practice, pupil voice, discussion, questioning, quizzes and scrutiny of pupils’ work. By the time children leave St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, they are equipped with the geographical knowledge and skills needed for success at Key Stage 3 and beyond, and have developed a lifelong curiosity and appreciation for the diverse world in which they live.