Geography
Intent
At Southwark Park Primary School, we believe that all children should have the opportunity to develop their understanding of the world around them. Our geography curriculum aims to prepare students to be responsible citizens and to respect the diversity and interconnectedness of our world, as well as recognise the impact they can have on the world around them. By studying inspiring places and people, as well as conducting practical geographical investigations, pupils will be equipped with the knowledge and skills both to ask questions about their environment, as well as be able to research and analyse information which may help them answer these questions. We want all children to leave year 6 with an appreciation for the natural world and considering themselves as global citizens.
Implementation
Our curriculum is focused on the skills outlined in the national curriculum, ensuring that children make good progress both in their knowledge and in their application of these skills as they move through the school. Each year group in Key Stage 1 and 2 has a particular geographical focus, which ensures that these areas are covered in depth and fully understood. These focus areas start with physical features and provide the children with a solid foundation to tackle more complex issues such as trade and the climate by the time they reach upper Key Stage 2. Children are taught to use a range of paper and digital resources to investigate and record relevant data, and are encouraged to apply these skills to answer their own questions. Field work and trips are carefully planned and incorporated into teaching to provide opportunities to apply these skills in practical contexts.
Impact
Through ongoing formative assessment and questioning, teachers assess children’s understanding of key concepts, ensuring before each unit that previous learning is secure and by providing a high quality outcome for each unit of study which provides the children with the opportunity to demonstrate their learning. By the end of Year 6, children will have a firm understanding of the key geographical concepts outlined in the national curriculum, and will be able to demonstrate this by making cross curricular links and applying their skills in a variety of contexts. They will be prepared to continue their learning journey into secondary school.
