Garland Junior School

Why study Geography?

‘Geography illustrates the past, explains the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?’- Michael Palin

"Surely we all have a responsibility to care for our planet. The future of humanity and indeed all life on earth now depends on us." - Sir David Attenborough

"Geography is the tapestry that weaves the world together.” - Gil Grosvenor

Geography Intent, Implementation and Impact

Intent

At Garland Junior School our intent for Geography education is to foster a deep understanding and appreciation of the world in which our pupils live. We aim to inspire curiosity and encourage a sense of wonder about the natural and human environments. Our curriculum is designed to provide pupils with:

• Knowledge of Diverse Places: Pupils will learn about different cultures, economies, and physical landscapes, which nurtures global citizenship and cultural awareness.
• Geographical Skills: We aim to equip pupils with essential skills such as map reading, fieldwork, and data interpretation that are transferable across disciplines and life in general.
• Environmental Awareness: The curriculum incorporates themes around sustainability and climate change, helping pupils understand their role in caring for the planet.
• Critical Thinking: We encourage pupils to question, analyse, and form judgements about geographical phenomena, promoting critical thinking skills that can be applied beyond the classroom.

Our Geography curriculum aligns with the National Curriculum and is underpinned by our school values of respect, teamwork, perseverance and kindness. It also supports our vision to provide challenge for all children and develop their sense of community, curiosity and creativity.

Implementation

The implementation of our Geography curriculum is well-structured and ensures progressive learning across year groups. The key strategies include:

• Sequential Curriculum Design: Our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced to build upon prior knowledge and skills. Each year group focuses on specific themes that develop as the years progress. Learning is focussed around a key question to further foster the enquiry process in Geography.
• Interactive Learning Experiences: We employ a variety of teaching methods, including outdoor learning, virtual field trips, and storytelling, to engage pupils. Field trips to local areas of interest enhance learning by allowing practical application of concepts in real-world contexts.
• Cross-Curricular Links: Where possible, Geography is integrated across the curriculum, linking with subjects such as history, science, and art. This holistic approach helps pupils make connections and reinforces their geographical understanding.
• Assessment and Feedback: Regular formative assessments guide our teaching. We employ diverse assessment strategies, including self-assessments, peer feedback, and teacher evaluations, to ensure that pupils understand their progress and areas for improvement.
• Professional Development: Our staff regularly participate in CPD (Continuing Professional Development) focused on best practices, ensuring they are up-to-date with the latest educational research and strategies to best support our pupils.

Impact

The impact of our Geography curriculum is evidenced in multiple ways:

• Pupil Outcomes: Pupils demonstrate high levels of knowledge and skills as geographers, which is evidenced by teacher assessment and observational data.
• Engagement and Enthusiasm: Pupil voice surveys indicate a high level of interest and enjoyment in Geography. Many pupils express a desire to explore further and develop their understanding of global issues.
• Behaviour and Attitudes: Geography lessons encourage cooperative learning, fostering respect and teamwork in line with our school values. We observe positive behaviours during lessons, with pupils working collaboratively to solve geographical problems.
• Long-term Memory Retention: Regular knowledge checks reveal a strong retention of key concepts over time. Our pupils can discuss geographical themes confidently, demonstrating their understanding in a variety of contexts.
• Community and Global Awareness: Pupils actively engage in projects that promote environmental sustainability and community involvement, indicating their understanding of their role within a global context.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring will be undertaken by the subject lead and will consist of a variety of formats, including:

• Learning walks
• Book looks
• Observations
• Staff questionnaires
• Pupil voice

The subject lead will plan lessons that facilitate the acquisition of new skills and the development of existing techniques to ensure progression across the school. Planning will allow for cross-curricular links and support the extended use of vocabulary throughout the curriculum.