“Geography explains the past, illuminates the present and prepares us for the future. What could be more important than that?”

                                                                                            -Michael Palin

Intention:

At Swimbridge CE Primary School, our Geography curriculum is ambitiously designed to kindle a vibrant curiosity, fascination, and appreciation for the world in our children. It aims to provide them with a diverse and comprehensive understanding of people, places, and both natural and human geography. Our curriculum progresses from the local to the global, ensuring that each step involves comparing and contrasting with the touchstone of the local environment.

Adopting a globally thematic approach, our curriculum equips children with the necessary geographical skills to collect, analyze, and effectively communicate data acquired through hands-on fieldwork experiences. This progression deepens their comprehension of geographical processes. We emphasize diverse communication methods, including maps, numerical and quantitative skills, and extended writing, empowering each child to convey geographical information effectively.

Engaging our children, the curriculum stimulates interest in the world around them, nurturing inquisitive, resilient, and independent thinkers. We celebrate the voice of the child, fostering an environment where children confidently express their thoughts. Our aim is to inspire active global citizens who challenge conventional thinking and build on their cultural capital, learning, and experiences both inside and outside the classroom. Through this approach, our Geography curriculum promotes a lifelong enthusiasm for learning, preparing children to navigate the complexities of the ever-changing world.

Implementation:

Children are provided with high-quality teaching and learning experiences drawing on a range of pedagogies to engage a love of learning within the children. Each child as they progress through the school will cover the National Curriculum in its entirety. Our two-year rolling programme will be rigorously monitored and evaluated in order to ensure high standards are achieved. We will further develop the range and quality of resources available to all children to enrich and support their learning in geography. The use of external experts and resources, including trips and visitors coming into school, will be an important part of the learning programme. This will enhance the children’s enjoyment and therefore engagement in geography.

Engage:

During our Engage Stage, you should see children:

• Taking an active part in memorable first-hand experiences

• Beginning to read and research about their new theme using a range of materials

• Asking their own enquiry questions

• Talking about and exploring new ideas

• Developing oracy skills in different situations and with a range of people

• Taking part in sensory activities

• Identifying possibilities for future learning

Develop

During our Develop Stage, you should see children:

• Delving deeper into a theme

• Developing an understanding of new concepts and skills

• Acquiring new knowledge 

• Practising and mastering new skills

• Making links between subjects across the curriculum

• Re-visiting previously learnt skills

• Composing, exploring, making, doing, building and investigating

• Using transferable skills in different subjects and contexts

• Reading and writing for different purposes and audiences

• Finding answers to their own questions and those asked by others

• Following pathways of enquiry based on their own interests

• Explaining and describing their learning and understanding

Innovate

During our Innovate Stage, you should see children:

• Applying skills, knowledge and understanding to real-life and imaginary contexts

• Showing enterprise in solving problems and resolving situations

• Using their thinking skills to explore possibilities

• Building their self-esteem and confidence 

• Reflecting upon identifying their own needs, skills and understanding 

• Working in pairs, groups, as a whole class and independently

• Taking on different roles and responsibilities

Express

During our Express Stage, you should see children:

• Performing, presenting and becoming the experts

• Evaluating finished products, processes and progress

• Linking what they have learned to starting points or initial observations

• Reflecting on their own learning 

• Sharing their achievements with parents, classmates, the community and beyond

• Celebrating their achievements

“Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.”

National Curriculum, 2014