Geography Curriculum intent, implementation and impact statement

What is the capital of Peru?" "What is the main export of South Africa?" "What is the longest river in Wales? 

Curriculum Intent

At John Burns Primary School, our intent is to:

• Provide a high-quality, broad and balanced geography curriculum.
• Inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it.
• Promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments.
• Deepen understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes, alongside geographical skills and fieldwork. 
• Provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.
• 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 later life.

Curriculum Implementation

At John Burns Primary School:

• Programmes of Study are blocked and linked to termly 3P topics.
• At the start of each Unit of Work children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know.
• Every year group will build upon the learning from prior year groups therefore developing depth of understanding and progression of skills.
• In order to support children in their ability to ‘know more and remember more’ there are regular opportunities to review the learning taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons.
• Pupils will have opportunities to use and interpret a wide range of geographical information, including maps, atlases, diagrams, globes and aerial photographs.
• Pupils will collect, analyse and present a range of data, gathered through experiences of fieldwork (observations, surveys, investigations and field sketches), to deepen understanding of geographical processes.
• Effective use of educational visits, local fieldwork and visitors are planned to enrich and enhance learning experiences.
• Consideration is given to how greater depth will be taught, learnt and demonstrated within each lesson, as well as how learners will be supported in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
• Evidence of pupil work is recorded in red topic books (KS1 and KS2). This book also contains history work.
• Outcomes of work are regularly monitored to ensure that they reflect a sound understanding of the key identified knowledge.
• Assessment is informed by observations during lessons, verbal feedback, pupil voice and work scrutiny.
• Summative judgements (Working Towards/Working At/Working Above age-related Expectations) are recorded in end of year reports for all KS1 and KS2 pupils (EYFS profile assessment - ELG Understanding the World).   
• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained. These are done through regular discussions with the geography lead, whole school moderation and staff meetings.
• Cross-curricular links are planned for and allow children to deepen their understand across the curriculum, including the use of history, mathematics and science.

Curriculum Impact

At John Burns Primary School, our pupils will have:

• Developed the geographical knowledge and skills to help them explore, navigate and understand the world around them and their place in it.
• Gained from meaningful, memorable fieldwork opportunities that last a life time.   
• A secure understanding of the subject and the importance and valuable contributions that they could make as informed global citizens which will impact and shape their future.