Geography

Intent

At Bidston Village we believe that Geography stimulates and inspires curiosity and fascination about the world, and their place within it. Our Geography curriculum is designed to equip pupils with a meaningful skill set and understanding of the world around them, which will remain with them for the rest of their lives. At its heart, geography is an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. Throughout the primary phase, children are given the opportunity to explore a range of diverse places, people, resources and both natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

We aim to develop confident learners, through exposure to a range of practical experiences, which build their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills enabling them to explain how the Earth’s features are shaped, interconnected and change over time. We also intend for children to become passionate and knowledgeable about our local community and beyond. Starting with the locality, we prepare the children for the ‘wider world’ using a variety of online and practical resources, including trips and fieldwork

Implementation

At Bidston Village, the national curriculum is taught in conjunction with Curriculum Essentials, which has enabled us to develop, plan and deliver a rich curriculum that ensures skills and knowledge are built on year on year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

Beginning in Foundation Stage, our pupils are given opportunities to discover and learn about the world they live in. The Geography element of the children’s work is related to the Knowledge and Understanding of the World objectives set out in the EYFS Curriculum.

In Key Stage 1, Geography develops pupil knowledge, skills and understanding relating to their own environment and the people who live there and an awareness of the wider world, in accordance with the KS1 National Curriculum.

In Key Stage 2, Geography extends pupil knowledge, skills and understanding relating to people, places and environments in the United Kingdom and beyond, developing an appreciation of how places relate to each other and the wider world, in accordance with the KS2 National Curriculum.

Curriculum progression is clearly set out throughout the use of key ‘Milestones’ allowing children to develop and build on skills previously taught and is structured to allow frequent opportunities for children to revise and review key facts and knowledge. Our carefully planned curriculum starts with children learning first about their local area and then using this knowledge to expand to our wider country, Europe and then the world and beyond. We feel it is very important for our children to develop a strong sense of community and develop a passion about the conservation and preservation of our local environment. This is why we try to make use of our local environment, as much as possible, in our teaching. It is important for us to teach our pupils about how to respect their local and global environment and what they can do to help. It is our hope that this respect in turn will transfer a better understanding and appreciation for environmental issues affecting the wider world.

A strong focus for teaching is the use of correct technical vocabulary and teachers carefully plan the language they use during their sessions and model, through discussion, specific geographical vocabulary to help embed this language in the children’s long term memory. We also plan opportunities for Voice 21 oracy sessions throughout our Geography curriculum to allow pupils to debate important geographical and environmental issues and express their opinions about the world they live in.

Impact

The impact of our Geography curriculum is that our learners are equipped with the geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the secondary curriculum and for life as an adult in the wider world.  The children will be able to discuss their learning and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a range of activities.

Outcomes in Geography books evidence a broad and balanced Geography curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of identified key geographical knowledge and a progression of skills.