Curriculum Subject Overview
Subject: Geography
Intent:
At Bramley Park Academy, we believe Geography is an important part of children’s development throughout school, right from an early age. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for Geography; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum; ensuring the progressive development of geographical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to develop a love for geography. We intend on delivering a curriculum which:
- Aims for a high-quality geography curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people.
- Equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes.
- Develops geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways.
- Fosters a love learning about geography by gaining knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits.
- Gives each pupil a chance to BELIEVE in themselves as geographers and develop the power of resilience and can PERSEVERE when faced with challenges.
- Engages all children and entitles them to the same quality of teaching and learning opportunities, striving to ACHIEVE their potential.
- Provides equal opportunities for children to apply their geographical knowledge to other subjects (cross-curricular links).
- Is in line with the expectations in the National Curriculum 2014.
Implementation:
Our new and engaging approach to the curriculum is designed to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of all areas of the National Curriculum form the Early Years through to the end of Year 6. At Bramley Park Academy, we ensure that geography has the same importance given to it as the core subjects, as we feel this is important in enabling all children to gain ‘real-life’ experiences. For example, using the local area to follow maps in Key Stage 1, to comparing the similarities and differences in environments and communities in Lower Key Stage 2, through to debating world issues on pollution in Upper Key Stage 2.
The intent of our curriculum is implemented through:
- Every year group has been provided with specific and age appropriate objectives that they should cover throughout the year.
- Builds upon prior learning from KS2 and each subsequent Key Stage;
- Engaging schemes of work which meet the needs of all learners and facilitate engagement and progress for all;
- Builds on prior knowledge of the world in which we live and physical and human processes and interactions;
- Engaging material, relevant and contemporary examples and case studies;
- Opportunities to participate in offsite learning experience in which they can participate in geographical fieldwork;
- Reflective approach to the continuing professional development of geography teachers
Impact:
The impact and measure of this is to ensure that children at Bramley Park Academy are equipped with geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key Stage 3 and for life as an adult in the wider world. We want the children to have thoroughly enjoyed learning about geography, therefore encouraging them to undertake new life experiences now and in the future.
Data
Geography assessment is ongoing in order to inform teachers with their planning, lessons and differentiation. Summative assessment is completed at the end of each unit in order to track progress and make middle leaders aware of the skills that require further improvement or embedding. Following the schools Quality Assurance monitoring cycle, Geography is monitored across all year groups following a range of strategies such as lesson observations, pupil voice and lesson observations.