Geography Curriculum

At St Marys CofE Primary School, 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. The geography curriculum at St Marys 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.  By using our knowledge and learning about our world, we ask questions and develop answers for how we can improve it. 

At St Mary’s, Geography planning is devised through professional discussion with teaching staff and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT); it meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, which is organised in our school ‘National Curriculum Ladders’.   The teaching of Geography is centred around real world project questions; this enables children to explore current global issues and make informed decisions about sustainability and their own futures.

Geography is taught mainly  during our Explore Projects (Spring Term).  Other opportunities for developing geographical skills and knowledge and to support children’s long term memory development are planned into the Discover project (Autumn Term).  The content of geographical study enables pupils to engage with their Project Question and Project Values.  For example, Year 4 ask: ‘How can our choices improve our future?’ and study the values of: ‘Change, Belief, Choice, Sustainability and Perseverance’.

Lessons at St Mary’s are planned and organised with progression and challenge as the key drivers.  Medium term plans are developed by Senior Leaders and the Subject Leader to ensure that curriculum coverage, high expectations and genuine ‘real life’ geography is studied.   All teachers prepare lessons based on Subject Leader plans and resources, which not only engage and enthuse learners but also offer challenging ‘deeper thinking questions’, in order for learners to progress, link their learning to their project questions and work at greater depth.  During Geography lessons, children will have the opportunity to work independently, with a partner or in mixed ability groups to enable everyone to engage with our geography curriculum.