Immaculate Heart Of Mary

Geography is challenging, motivating, topical and fun. In our diverse society, children need, more than ever before, to understand other people and cultures. Geography makes a major contribution to children's physical, intellectual, social and emotional development. In short, geography matters.

Intent

Why we have made the choices and decisions we have in designing our curriculum

The intention of the Geography Curriculum at Immaculate Heart of Mary Primary School is to inspire children’s curiosity and interest to explore the world that we live in and its people, which aims to ignite a love of learning.

Geography at Immaculate Heart of Mary extends far beyond the walls of the classroom. Our aim is to provide the children with a breadth of memorable experiences, to shape our pupils into curious and considerate global citizens. We intend to equip children with geographical skills to develop their knowledge through studying places, people and natural and human environments. This seeks to deepen the understanding of the Earth’s human and physical forms and processes. Geography, by nature, is an investigative subject. Through our teaching, we intend to provoke thought, questions and to encourage children to discover answers to their own questions through exploration and research to enable them to gain a greater understanding and knowledge of the world and their place in it. We want the children to understand how Catholic virtues enable them to appreciate and respect the wonderful world and encourage stewardship of their surroundings and to become accomplished and considerate individuals.

Implementation

How subject is taught in our school

What do we teach? What does this look like?

Our whole curriculum aims to enable all children, regardless of background, ability, additional needs, to flourish to become the very best version of themselves they can possibly be. We teach the National Curriculum, supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression. This ensures that skills and knowledge are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children. It is important that children develop the skills of a geographer by fully immersing them in all areas of the subject. The local area is fully utilised to achieve desired outcomes, with opportunities for learning outside the classroom embedded in practise. School trips and fieldwork are provided to give first hand experiences, which enhance children’s understanding of the world beyond their locality.

Impact

How we make sure outcomes are high for our children

We assess our children against the key skills we have identified in our progression of skills document based on the National Curriculum and one developing the key knowledge for each unit to go alongside this.

The subject leader monitors the impact of the geography curriculum across the school through lesson observations, scrutiny of planning and discussions with staff and pupils.

Children will have developed the geographical knowledge and skills to help them explore, navigate and understand the world around them and their place in it Children’s knowledge and skills will develop progressively as they move through the school, not only to enable them to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum but to prepare them to become competent geographers and adventurous, accomplished and considerate individuals, who will make a difference to God’s world.