Geography
Intent
Pupils at Educate U deserve a broad, progressive and ambitious Geography curriculum which is rich in skills and knowledge. The teaching intent is to develop pupils’ curiosity and develop a sense of wonder of their world which prepares them well for future learning or employment. Our Geography curriculum will give pupils the opportunity to develop:
Skills and knowledge
- develop an understanding of physical and human environments and processes;
- develop an understanding of the diverse character of places and landscapes;
- develop an understanding of interactions and interrelationships on the Earth’s surface;
- demonstrate knowledge of locations, places, processes, environments and different scales;
- given access to a range of Geographical concepts within context that can be understood at various levels of sophistication. Understanding concepts and how they are used in relation to places, environments and processes; the interrelationships between places, environments and processes;
- apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical information and issues to make judgements, this allows students to show breath of understanding and evaluate appreciation of the interrelationships between different aspects of geographical study;
- develop and demonstrate a range of geographical skills, including cartographic, graphical, numerical and statistical;
- use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to view analyse and interpret places and data;
- complete fieldwork enquiries which include the use of primary data taking place outside the classroom and school grounds.
- develop a rich and deep subject knowledge as part of themed topics taught in a holistic way.
- build on their understanding of the importance of British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and tolerance and respect
- improve their spiritual, social, moral and cultural understanding of the world.
Implementation
Geography will be taught from KS1-KS3 as part of termly cross-curricular projects and will be progressive, building on prior knowledge and skills throughout the key stages to avoid repeated prior learning.
The Geography curriculum is designed to give all students the confidence and experience to help inform and shape ideas; investigating human and physical strands of the multi-faceted subject considering themes such as the world around us, transport and mapping world oceans at KS1, to looking at world biomes such as rainforests, the energy crisis and the Arctic in KS2 and building on skills and knowledge in KS3 with world climate zones, adaptations and habitats and in KS3 extreme planet and climate change as part of the Futures topic.
The inter-woven geography curriculum offers pupils the opportunity to study a range of topics that investigate the physical processes of our planet, human societies and the economic and environmental challenges within the local, national and global context in a holistic way for our students with SEND. This gives students the confidence to interact with the wider world, leading to fulfilled and positive life experiences. The curriculum encourages students to ask questions, develop critical thinking skills, and layer a deeper understanding of complex concepts as the course navigates through the curriculum.
Geographical skills are embedded within units of work throughout all key stages. Students develop their cartographic, graphical, ICT and GIS and photographic skills. Fieldwork enquiries enable students to apply their skills, knowledge and understanding within both human and physical Geography.
Staff record internal data to monitor progress for pupil progress throughout each term for Geography. Expected progress will differ from pupil to pupil according to ability and need but staff will record Working Below expected level, Working At expected level and Working beyond expected level relevant to skills and knowledge demonstrated by a pupil relevant to their ability and needs.
Geography is delivered by high quality first teaching which promotes the love of learning. Teachers are supported in Geography by the Geography subject lead. The subject lead ensures that all lessons are planned to be accessible and engaging for students of all abilities for our children with SEND and that reasonable adjustments have been made to ensure that all can access the geography curriculum but also that there is challenge. A number of learning styles/activities are utilised during lessons appropriate to the class and the composite of knowledge that is being taught.
Impact
Outcomes in cross-curricular topics, evidencing 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 pupils progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding an appreciation and geographical understanding of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. Geographical understanding of places at a bigger scale such as nationally and internationally will also increase. As this does, pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural awareness will develop.
Pupils also capitalise on whole school cross-curricular events, including Black History month, World Environment Day and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month.