Intent

At Green Park School, our geography curriculum promotes curiosity and explores the world in lots of different ways. Geography should provide an interesting and exciting way for pupils to engage with both their local area and the fascinating aspects of the world we live in. We want to equip pupils with not only the minimum statutory requirements of the geography National Curriculum but to prepare them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of the wider world in later life. Our curriculum aims to develop our children as geographers who think geographically. Our curriculum covers the big concepts of:

• Place
• Space
• Scale
• Interdependence
• Physical and human processes
• Environmental impact
• Sustainable development
• Cultural awareness
• Cultural diversity

Our children are given opportunities to learn from other cultures, respect diversity, co-operate with one another and appreciate what they have. We believe it is important to provide our children with the opportunities to use a range of investigative and problem-solving skills, both in and outside the classroom, to develop a deep understanding of geography. We want children to be able to take what they have learnt in geography at Green Park, to be aware of local, national and international issues and take responsibility for their actions about the world and our environment.

Green Park School geographers will have:

• A passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.
• An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
• An excellent understanding of the ways in which places are interdependent and interconnected and how much human and physical environments are interrelated.
• An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
• Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills and use effective analytical and presentational techniques.
• The ability to reach clear conclusions and develop a reasoned argument to explain findings.
• Significant levels of originality, imagination or creativity as shown in interpretations and representations of the subject matter.
• Appropriately developed and utilised fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
• The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.

As a school we are lucky to be situated in an area that is ideally located for geographical fieldwork. There are lots of human and physical features in Newport Pagnell and in Milton Keynes which has a unique identity as a new town. We are fortunate enough to be able to take trips out of school to explore our locality on foot using the redways, which easily and accessibly connect Newport Pagnell with Milton Keynes and surrounding areas.

Implementation

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.

Our geography curriculum has been carefully built to ensure progression and repetition in terms of embedding key learning, knowledge and skills. As KS1, LKS2 and UKS2 are mixed year groups, we have ensured that all areas of the geography curriculum are taught over a two year programme. We recap and reflect on prior learning to help us build on the children’s knowledge. We ensure that children steadily build their human and physical geographical knowledge, place and location knowledge and their geographical skills including map skills and fieldwork skills.

At Green Park School, geography is equitable and accessible to all children.

In the EYFS, Geography is encompassed in ‘Understanding of the World’ and incorporates children’s understanding of ‘People and Communities’ and ‘the Natural World’. From an early age, the children learn about different cultures and countries. Children explore the similarities and differences of their homes and families and their environments. Utilising our indoor and outdoor environments, the children are offered a variety of experiences that help them reflect on their own life and those of others around the world. They are able to observe changes in the weather, seasons and states of matter. We promote recycling and respect for living things to encourage our children to think about how we can look after our planet and ourselves.

• In KS1, pupils build on their learning in Foundation and begin to deepen their geographical knowledge of the local area, comparing town and country. They explore London as a UK locality (both geographically and historically) and compare where they live to Asia. They develop their knowledge of the continents and seas and oceans. Map work moves from local to global, using varying media.
• Through Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4), geographical learning and teaching builds on the knowledge and understanding, skills and outcomes at Key Stage 1, and the pupils are encouraged to reach explanations and conclusions about topics, places and issues they have studied. Pupils expand their knowledge of the UK and Europe and study migration. Links are made in history when studying Romans and Vikings. Further study incorporates North and South America. Pupils build their knowledge of climate, volcanoes and earthquakes and rivers.
• At Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6) pupils study population, globalisation and sustainability whilst building on their fieldwork skills and knowledge gained in earlier years. Studies of ancient civilizations allow pupils to link geography to history and the impact humans have on their environment.

Impact

• As children progress through Green Park School they will develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation for their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. They will have good knowledge of other countries and cultures and be able to compare their lives to the lives of others.
• Children will deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and how this affects landscapes and environments.
• Our children will be confident geographers and be able to clearly discuss their learning from past and current topics, as well as explain their next steps.
• Our children will understand environmental issues and know how to respond.
• Children will have a good locational knowledge.

Outcomes in geography books evidence a broad and balanced curriculum and demonstrate children’s acquisition of key knowledge. Children review their learning at the end of every session and when starting a new lesson. Weekly and termly reviews also enable children to revisit their learning and helps the learning to ‘stick’.

Monitoring in geography includes: work sampling, lesson observations and/or learning walks, pupil and/or staff voice. This helps us adapt learning where necessary and is used to inform further curriculum developments. Pupil progress is assessed from their work and through pupil discussions about their learning.

By the end of their time at Green Park School, children should feel confident in using geographical skills and be ready to continue to study geography at secondary school. Children will have a sound understanding of the world around them and their place within it. Children will leave us ready for their future and go on to make positive contributions to the world they live in.