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Geography

Intent

At Northgate we believe that Geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.  Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, its interconnectedness and their place in it.  The geography curriculum at Northgate enables children to develop knowledge and skills that are transferable to other curriculum areas and which can and are used to promote their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.  Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills.

 

The curriculum is designed to ensure that teaching equips pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes.  As pupils progress through the school, their growing knowledge about the world helps them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.  Geographical knowledge and skills are progressive and are sequenced to provide the framework and approaches that provide explanation of how the Earth's features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

 

We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives, equipping them well for further education and beyond.

Implementation

At Northgate, we incorporate geography into our topic themed learning based on the Cornerstones Curriculum, therefore children are immersed into the subject using a variety of practical and cross-curricular opportunities.  Teachers create a positive attitude to geography learning within their classrooms and reinforce an expectation that all children are capable of achieving high standards.

Our whole school approach to the teaching and learning of geography involves the following;

  • Geography will be planned and taught in topic blocks by the class teacher.  Knowledge organisers show progression in teaching and learning units and provide teachers with the key knowledge and vocabulary of each topic that is taught in the previous and following year group.  Topic vocabulary mats underpin children's understanding of subject specific language, remind children of previous knowledge and provide visual and summative information on key knowledge to be learned.  Teachers can use this to recap and build on prior learning successfully.  This is a strategy to enable the achievement of a greater depth of knowledge and understanding as well as support the retention of facts.  
  • Through our planning, children are given a range of knowledge and skills based activities.  Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, involving high-quality resources.  Teachers use precise questioning in class to test knowledge and skills.
  • Teachers use a range of formative assessment tools to check pupils’ understanding and assess children regularly to identify those children with gaps in learning, so that all children keep up.
  • Children increase their cultural capital through visits and visitors.  These specialist visits and visitors deliver high quality workshops to facilitate and support geography learning by building on the children’s prior knowledge and aspire them to think of their futures and their prospective career paths.

Impact

As children progress through Northgate they cover the full geography curriculum developing a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation for their local area and its place within the wider geographical context.  Children deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and how this affects landscapes and environments.

 

Children deepen their understanding of geography through exciting and stimulating topics, where they can become fully immersed in their learning.

 

Regular assessments such as quizzes, mind maps and projects ensure that knowledge and understanding are developing appropriately.  Children also learn about careers related to geography from visits and outings, ensuring that all children are well prepared for their next steps in education and learning.