Subjects
Geography
Our Intent
At Wickersley Partnership Trust (primary) we aim to ensure our Geography curriculum is designed to sequence learning and embed the key skills that are required to develop curious students into competent Geographers.
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, as well as their place in it including their locality. 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; to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.
It is vital that curriculum knowledge and skills are not learnt in isolation. We teach Geography through the progression of skills and knowledge, both of which are planned in a sequential document and include in this, key lines of inquiry to develop links across the curriculum as well as to the bigger concepts that drive our curriculum intent, such as democracy and equality.
How we intend to remove barriers
In Geography we remove barriers to learning and support students’ ability to access the curriculum through the development of literacy, numeracy, oracy skills and vocabulary acquisition.
Misconceptions do not go unchallenged and the supportive environment within each and every lesson ensures that students develop their own literacy and vocabulary.
Literacy
Students are given many opportunities to read widely and often with students directed to geographical studies as well as researching independently. Pupils take part in learning opportunities with a range of contexts for reading and writing. These will develop from being supported to independent.
Numeracy
Throughout each year of the curriculum data handling skills are sequenced to become more complex over time. This ensures students build on the fundamental aspects of each one and develop their confidence and understanding.
Oracy
In order to develop their oracy within a subject specific context pupils are given opportunities to talk about their learning. Staff challenge use of geographical language and will direct pupils towards the correct terminology when appropriate.
Vocabulary
Students are introduced to key subject specific vocabulary and have regular opportunities to reinforce their understanding. Key geographical vocabulary is highlighted to the pupils and pupils are guided to use this in their work.
How we develop skills for learning
Students are given opportunities to develop their skills for learning in each and every lesson. Engaging starter activities help students to recall the key concepts of prior learning. Our aspiring geographers are presented with a variety of experiences and learning opportunities. They are challenged to think critically and form opinions.
The skills for learning process within the Geography curriculum both reinforces the key Geographical skills content and helps our students to know, remember and be able to do more at each stage of the curriculum.
Teacher assessment informs planning and progression within the curriculum.
How we foster personal attributes
In Geography our curriculum intent embodies that of the school. We are committed to ensuring students are exposed to the wider world context in order to develop them as well rounded individuals. Our curriculum demands independence, resilience and responsibility in line with the WPT ‘School Ways’.
Geography exposes students to different cultures, languages and experiences that broaden their horizons and demand they think of themselves as members of a local, national and global society. We aspire for all our students to become avid Geographers who demonstrate empathy, tolerance, understanding, aspiration and respect so they are prepared to be active citizens in the local community and beyond.
How we intend to enrich student experiences and broaden the horizons of students
Geography is a curriculum that must go beyond the classroom. To this end we broaden the horizons of all our students and enrich their learning through a range of first hand experiences. All our students have exposure to learning beyond the traditional mainstream lesson and have opportunities to enrich their experiences. Geography is planned as part of cross curricular topics to support links in learning.
