Geography

Intent 

At New Close we believe that it is crucial that our children develop an understanding of UK geography, the geography of the wider world, and how it impacts upon our community and people in the world. Our curriculum is developed in line with the National Curriculum and is delivered in a way that is interesting, relevant to our children and links to other areas of learning, wherever possible. Our desire is that students build richly connected knowledge, vocabulary and skills that they can carry forward through their education and their lives. Our aim is that we inspire our children to become active and curious in regards to geography. We want our pupils to develop the tools to evaluate information about the world around them and make informed judgements based on this, and help them understand key features of the world and how this shapes the world they live in. We believe it is crucial that children learn about the geographical elements that shape our nation, as well as other civilizations across the globe.

Implementation

Geography is taught as a topic driver for every other term (Years 1-6). Alongside this lead subject other linked subjects are taught, where appropriate, to provide a thematic approach. The curriculum has been designed to enable skills and knowledge for Geography to be built on sequentially and repeated systematically. In mapping out the curriculum, consideration has been given to prior knowledge and skills required between year groups, units of work and subjects. For example in Year 5 and 6, in term 1 of the Year B cycle, children complete a Geography unit of work on South America. This puts into context a Geography unit on The Ancient Maya in term 2 before returning to a Geography unit based on the changing use of the Rainforest and climate change. In term 4, children apply the themes of an ancient civilization by looking at The Ancient Greeks. Children are expected to transfer/recall knowledge and apply skills across these units of work. This is replicated in all year groups across the Year A and B cycle.

Progression of knowledge and skills is mapped out, which forms the core of our units of work and learning objectives. The Rising Stars schemes of work, is used as the basis of our work. This is adapted to ensure it meets the needs of our New Close children and each class that we teach.

Impact 

Assessment of Geography at New Close is a multi- facetted approach. We need to recognise the limits of placing any summative judgement against the children’s knowledge of Geography because the validity of this data is relatively low. We equally need to be wary of purely looking at the outcomes from within a lesson, and judge the performance of children, rather than what has been committed to long-term memory. Because key geographical knowledge is unlikely to be revisited, the vast majority of our efforts within assessment should be towards responsive teaching, in order that misconceptions and are addressed at the point they are made. However, we can use our ‘Need to Know’ facts as a barometer to assess long-term learning.

Click here to see all our curriculum policies, including our Geography Policy

Click here to see all our Long Term Plans, including Geography 

Click here to see all our Skills and Knowledge Progressions, including Geography

Click here to see all our Vocabulary Progessions, including Geography