Geography
Intent
We provide a Geography curriculum that is ambitious and designed for all pupils. It is coherently planned and sequenced to cumulatively provide the necessary knowledge and skills for pupils’ futures, empowering them to take their role as informed and active citizens in the 21st century. The emphasis is not just on geographical knowledge but also on skills and concepts. The curriculum has the same challenging academic ambitions for all pupils, with everyone working from a shared starting point to answer the same key questions.
Implementation
A breadth of teaching approaches, appropriate to the content and desired learning outcomes, is used to engage all pupils and enable them not only to acquire knowledge but also to apply it in meaningful contexts. Our Geography curriculum is built around the breadth of study outlined in the National Curriculum, while also extending beyond it to include a wider, global perspective. We use the Rising Stars scheme to support our planning, but we adapt and personalise it to meet the needs of our pupils and our school context.
Fieldwork is an integral part of our Geography curriculum, allowing pupils to apply their learning in real-world environments and develop practical geographical skills. Through this hands-on approach, children explore their local area and beyond, learning how to gather and analyse data, use maps and compasses, and deepen their understanding of geographical concepts.
Appropriate discussion is encouraged as a means of systematically checking pupils’ geographical learning, identifying misconceptions, and providing immediate feedback. Questions and tasks designed to stretch and challenge the most able pupils are incorporated where appropriate. Revisiting ideas and concepts in different, more challenging contexts in later units, using varied assessments and quizzes, helps pupils remember content and integrate new knowledge into their evolving conceptual framework. Quality resources and materials are used, and the curriculum is sequenced towards the accumulation of skills, knowledge, and understanding for pupils’ futures. There is a strong emphasis on visual literacy, as Geography is an inherently visual subject.
Impact
The impact of Bonner’s history curriculum is evidenced through the pupils’ use and understanding of knowledge, skills, concepts, and specialist vocabulary. This is demonstrated by the outcomes of varied activities, assessments, and quizzes. The broad range of approaches for pupils to communicate their knowledge ensures that everyone can demonstrate progression and impact. In particular, it is evidenced by pupils’ ability, willingness, and confidence in addressing and discussing each unit’s key question, giving responses that focus on historical vocabulary, skills, and concepts. Pupils understand and can explain to others what history is and the importance and value of studying the subject.
Progression of Skills
progression of skills geography.pdf
