Geography is challenging, motivating, topical and fun. In our diverse society children need, more than ever before, to understand other people and cultures. At St. Catherine’s, we believe that geographical knowledge, concepts and skills are essential components of a broad and balanced curriculum. Geography makes a major contribution to children's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development. In short, geography matters! As Professor Andrew Goudie puts it, 'What other subject tells us so much about the great issues of our age?'.

Intent

By nature, humans are explorers and problem solvers.

Our pupils are global citizens, and we believe geography provides them with the opportunity to explore and discover the world from their very own classroom.

It is our intention to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its’ people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes, it is our intention to provide our pupils with exciting learning opportunities in order to challenge, motivate, develop progressive knowledge and skills and be fun!

Implementation

At St. Catherine’s, we implement a progressive geography curriculum that builds on prior knowledge and skills year on year.  The geography curriculum is taught in response to driving questions which are aimed to be challenging, inspiring, creative, moral and encourage active learning. Cross- curricular outcomes in geography are specifically planned for with strong links between geography and literacy lessons identified, planned for and utilised.

Children will revisit geographical skills and knowledge in order to embed and deepen understanding. Teachers use questioning and provide opportunities for discussion and investigation to support the development of vocabulary, which is explicitly taught and modelled by teachers in every lesson. Key geographical knowledge and language (such as, the name and location of continents, countries, capital cities and oceans) is revisited frequently, to make learning memorable, relevant and easy to retrieve. Maps are displayed throughout the school and teachers are encouraged to reference these when appropriate during all lessons to help to develop an awareness of the globe. School trips and fieldwork are provided to give first hand experiences, which enhance children’s understanding of the world beyond their locality.

Impact

Our Geography Curriculum is high quality, well-thought out and is planned to demonstrate progression. By end of the Geography curriculum at St. Catherine’s, our children will:

• Have a growing knowledge of the world and their place in it.
• Have a wider vocabulary of geographical terms.
• Aspire to discover more about the world, through reading, travel or the media.
• Realise they have choices to make in the world, about the future of our planet.
• Have developed their geographical skills, such as map reading, collecting and analysing a range of geographical data and enquiry.

We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods:

PUPIL VOICE

Through discussion and feedback, children talk enthusiastically about their geography lessons and show a genuine curiosity and interest in the areas they have explored.

EVIDENCE IN KNOWLDEGE

Pupils have a sound understanding of location and place and are able to compare and make links between these. They will deepen their knowledge of human and physical processes and understand how these affect environments.

EVIDENCE IN SKILLS

Pupils use acquired vocabulary to interpret and convey their understanding of the world. They can analyse and interpret information in order to question and reflect on the world and it’s inhabitants.

BREADTH & DEPTH

Teachers plan opportunities for pupils to study across concepts and deepen their conceptual understanding in aspects of particular geographical value. Pupils have the confidence and are inspired to further their knowledge.

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