Geography

Our Vision for Geography

“‘A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip 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, their growing knowledge about the world should help 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, 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

At our school we aim to ensure all pupils:

• are interested and have a desire to investigate a variety of human and physical characteristics of different places, both local and afar, through purposeful research and questioning.
• develop a connection with and an understanding of the world and their place within it as global citizens.
• are able to make links with the past and understand how we can prepare for the future of the world we live in.
• experience and understand various geographical skills (using maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping, using locational and directional language, using aerial photographs, devising maps, using Ordnance Survey maps and fieldwork).
• use the school locality and where possible beyond, as a source for geographical enquiry and fieldwork where observations and data can be collected analysed and presented.
• understand the differences between places and their cultures and be able to recognise how these change over time.

We intend that all pupils have opportunities within the geography curriculum that will not only develop their knowledge and skills within the subject but enable them to understand our world.

“The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”    Barak Obama

It is our duty to ensure our pupils play an active part in preserving and repairing the world that we live in. St Mary’s strives to offer pupils opportunities to be active global citizens understanding how small changes can impact positively on the future. The curriculum we offer has planned links to diversity, spirituality, citizenship and environmental education.

Geography Curriculum Overview