Mrs Becky Foster is our Subject Leader for Geography

Core Values - Friendship, love, faith

Intent
Through the Geography curriculum at St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School, we intend to inspire and excite the children’s curiosity and interest in the ever-changing world in which we live. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, its interconnectedness and their place in it. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes. We want children to develop geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits taking advantage of the local surroundings we are so lucky to have. Life in all its fullness. John 10:10.

Implementation 
Geography at St Martin and St Mary Church of England Primary School is organised 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 consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group across the school. At the beginning of each topic, children are able to convey what they know already as well as what they would like to find out. This informs the programme of study and ensures that lessons are relevant and take account of children’s different starting points. Consideration is taken into to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion. The local area is fully utilised to achieve the desired outcomes, with lots of opportunities arising from our Outdoor Education days as well as specifically organised geography fieldtrips to enhance the children’s geography education. The geography curriculum is also enhanced through our school Eco group and gardening club, which work hard to educate and empower all of our children to make positive decisions and become change makers for an environmentally sustainable world.

Impact - Children’s work in books, evidence a broad and balanced geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key knowledge. Children review their successes in achieving the lesson objectives at the end of every session and are actively encouraged to ask questions and explore concepts further if they need to extend their understanding. 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. Regular school trips provide further relevant and contextual learning which embed the children’s understanding of knowledge and skills. 
 

Early Years Foundation Stage - Our aim is to inspire in pupils a curiosity about their world. We encourage children to be inquisitive and ask questions and talk about features of their own immediate environment and how environments may vary from each other. We look at maps and share information.

Key Stage 1 - Pupils investigate their local area and a contrasting area in the United Kingdom or abroad, finding out about the environment and the people who live there. Their knowledge of the wider world is expanded.  They learn about the continents and seas and be able to name and locate them. They carry out geographical enquiry inside and outside the classroom.  They begin to ask geographical questions about people, places and environments, and use geographical skills and resources such as maps and photographs. 

Key Stage 2 - Children develop their understanding of key geographical knowledge and concepts in a project led series of topics as they progress through Key Stage 2. They further expand their understanding of both the physical and human geography of the UK, Europe and the rest of the World. Children are challenged to make links between different places - their people, their customs, their history - and how this has impacted on life and the landscape in those places. Children increasingly understand the impact of human behaviour and choices on the geography of our planet.