Geography

Our Intent

At Southwark Primary our Geography Curriculum will inspire our pupils with a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. The Geography Curriculum will equip our pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments together with a greater understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes and to encourage the children to show their respect for their local, national and international environment. As our pupil’s progress through our school and increase their geographical skills, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. We will broaden their experiences through taking them on a journey locally, nationally, internationally and globally. Pupils will develop in-depth knowledge and essential skills in both physical and human geography and will understand the part that they and others play in ensuring the planet’s sustainable future developing their own ability to form opinions, take responsibility and share an understanding. Our children will develop a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there, through their learning of Geography. Children understand how Geography has shaped their lives and the world today. Continuing to build on their knowledge, we aim for all of our children to continue to be interested in the developments of our planet throughout their life. Our children will gain confidence and enjoy practical experiences through local fieldwork studies as well as locations further afield. As their skills further develop, all our pupils gain knowledge, understanding and can explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Geography Progression at Southwark

EYFS

Southwark pupils will have a growing sense of their own personal places and how these places link with their immediate locality. They will identify and explore features of their own immediate environment and understand their place within it. Through simple comparisons, pupils will identify how environments vary from one another. They will understand the role that they play in looking after their immediate environment.

KS1

Southwark pupils will develop an increasing sense of place by building upon their existing knowledge of their locality. They will begin to use geographical skills to enhance their locational awareness as they move from their local area to the United Kingdom and beyond. Pupils will understand geographical similarities and differences through studying the physical and human geography of a small area of the United Kingdom and a small area in a contrasting non-European country. Pupils will understand the role that they and others play in looking after the world for today and for future generations.

KS2

Southwark pupils will extend their knowledge and understanding of the United Kingdom and they will move onto exploring Europe and North and South America. This will include the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. Pupils will demonstrate a growing understanding of how humans can impact the physical environment on a global level. This acquired knowledge will empower pupils to address preconceived misconceptions and stereotypes that they or others may hold.

To support children in their ability to know more and remember more, there are regular opportunities to review the learning that has taken place in previous topics as well as previous lessons. At the start of each topic children will review previous learning using the ‘rewind’ and ‘fast forward’ approach. Children are also given a knowledge organiser at the start of each topic which details some key information, dates and vocabulary. This is used to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and is used as a reference document. All children are given opportunities to use a variety of different maps, explore photographs and aerial images, use resources such as compasses and
online mapping tools and gather a range of evidence to answer a geographical question or enquiry. 

We also plan for effective use of educational visits and visitors, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experience and the Geography curriculum. Teachers use highly effective Assessment for Learning at different points in each lesson to ensure misconceptions are highlighted and addressed. Effective modelling by teachers also ensures that
children are able to achieve their learning intentions, with misconceptions addressed within it.