Intent – how we have planned our geography curriculum

The study of geography involves our pupils exploring the relationship and interactions between people and the environments in which they live and upon which they and all life on Earth depends.  Many of the pupils who now attend our school will live to see the next century and inhabit a world of 11 billion people.  The many opportunities and challenges that will arise during their lifetime will be very much about geography at personal, national and global scales.  What we intend pupils to learn in geography reflects this throughout the curriculum.  In particular we have established a school curriculum plan for geography as an entitlement for all pupils that is:

• Aspirational in terms of instilling in our pupils a desire to achieve the highest levels of success through providing them with the opportunities to excel in terms of their acquisition of long lasting knowledge and understanding and mastery of core geographical skills.  Such high aspirations are clearly identifiable in the progressive and increasingly challenging objectives of the schemes of work of each enquiry, which define what the pupils will know, understand and be able to do
• Our KS1 geography curriculum is planned over a 2 year period to ensure full coverage of the curriculum
• Our KS2 geography curriculum is planned over a 2 year period per class to ensure full coverage of the curriculum
• Logical, relevant, broad and balanced in terms of the areas of subject content we have selected which reflect the guidance of and are commensurate with the demands of the National Curriculum.  For example we have ensured that content includes an even proportion of physical and human investigations such as the effect of rivers on the landscape and the impact of the rise of megacities in the world.  Due consideration has been given also to making certain that our geography curriculum maintains relevancy and topicality through including enquiries that engage pupils in studying issues such as climate change, flooding and trade.
• Progressively more challenging Years 1 through 6 both in terms of the complexity of the subject knowledge we want our pupils to acquire and also the critical thinking skills we support them to utilise to ensure they understand the significance of that knowledge.
•  These anticipated outcomes in knowledge and understanding and skills acquisition are detailed in the objectives of the schemes of work of each enquiry.  In terms of the geographical techniques we want our pupils to master as they progress through the school our curriculum planning has been informed by our identification of the coverage required at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 . These are integrated into our half termly enquiries to ensure adequate coverage through the curriculum;
• Built upon and has continuity with the provision for geography established in the Early Years Foundation Stage and in particular that which addresses the knowledge and skills expectations of the People, Culture and Communities Early Learning Goal;
• Inclusive in terms of delivering the same curriculum to all of our pupils irrespective of specific learning needs or disabilities and adapting where necessary through, for example,  in class support, providing different learning environments, alternative learning activities and assessment outcomes. Our curriculum is ambitious and designed to give SEND and disadvantaged children the knowledge they need to succeed in life.
• Intends to prepare our children for the next stage of their learning and have the relevant skills to be able to question, research and think like a geographer ready for Year 7.