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Geography at Kenton Primary School

Geography Intent

“Geography is a subject which can hold the key to our future” – Michael Palin.

Through the teaching of geographical skills, knowledge and understanding of the National Curriculum, we provide high- quality geography education which inspires pupils’ curiosity and fascination with the world and the people who live in it. Geography is an exciting, relevant subject, which can be seen in action in the daily lives of our pupils. We aim to ensure pupils are able to see Geography in the context of themselves and the lives of the community around them and the wider world.  We recognise the importance of our children having a knowledge and understanding of the wider world, to broaden their horizons and to recognise and appreciate a life and opportunities outside of Kenton. Throughout the curriculum, we aim to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive and transferrable not just throughout their time at Kenton, but beyond into further education and the world of work.

Geography Implementation

We achieve our ambitions Geography intent through implementing the following strategies:

Explicit Curriculum Design:

• An effective and well-sequenced curriculum that covers the full spectrum of geographical knowledge and skills for each year group, incorporating statutory requirements from the National Curriculum for Geography.
• Clear and comprehensive schemes of work that outline the content, sequence, and progression within the curriculum, ensuring that prior knowledge is built upon systematically.
• Opportunities for pupils to study a range of geographical topics, including physical geography (e.g., weather, landforms, ecosystems) and human geography (e.g., settlements, cultures, economies), with a balanced representation of local, national, and global contexts.

First-hand Experiences and Fieldwork:

• Regular opportunities for first-hand experiences, including fieldwork, to deepen pupils’ understanding and knowledge of the local area, as well as contrasting environments.
• Frequent visits to relevant geographical sites, such as local landmarks, parks, and nature reserves, to allow pupils to observe, explore, and make connections with their surroundings.
• Collaboration with external organizations, such as local geography associations or environmental agencies, to provide expert-led fieldwork experiences and enrich pupils’ understanding of real-world geographical issues.

Well-planned and Engaging Teaching:

• High-quality teaching that is well-paced, innovative, and responsive to pupils’ needs, ensuring that pupils are active participants in their learning.
• Effective use of a range of teaching strategies, such as questioning, discussions, practical activities, group work, and the use of maps, globes, atlases, and digital resources.
• Differentiated tasks and resources that cater to the diverse needs and abilities of all pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), ensuring that every child can access and make progress in Geography.

Cross-curricular Links:

• Thoughtful integration of Geography into other subjects, fostering cross-curricular links that reinforce pupils’ understanding and enable them to apply geographical knowledge and skills in different contexts.
• Collaboration with teachers from other subjects, such as English, Mathematics, Science, and History, to plan and deliver integrated projects that promote interdisciplinary learning and the transfer of geographical understanding.

Cultural Awareness and Global Perspectives:

• Intentional inclusion of diverse geographical examples and case studies that reflect the multicultural society and global nature of the world.
• Opportunities for pupils to explore different cultures, traditions, and perspectives, promoting empathy, respect, and understanding.
• Regular discussions about global issues and sustainable development to raise pupils’ awareness of the interconnections between people, places, and environments.

Geography Impact

Across the school year, lesson observations and learning walks take place and evidence that teachers provide a broad and balanced geography curriculum. Teachers are using the rolling programme and progression of skills documents to ensure children’s prior knowledge is considered and developed upon. Book scrutiny’s show that children can demonstrate that they are acquiring the key knowledge and skills within our rolling programme. Pupil voice reflects the growing geographical understanding, use of vocabulary and enthusiasm of geography, alongside showing that pupils are developing a locational awareness.

At the end of the year, teachers will use their judgements to grade the children on the geography work they have completed. This data will be analysed by the humanities lead and further CPD may be put in place if necessary. Analysis by the subject leader enables a consistent approach to geography teaching across the school and this is supported through monitoring of children’s books, pupil conferencing and through termly conversations with pupils.

At Kenton Primary School we foster a love of learning and a deep appreciation for the subject, leading to significant impact on pupils’ development:

• Pupils will exhibit excellent knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts, vocabulary, and key facts, demonstrating their ability to apply this knowledge across a range of contexts.
• Pupils will be able to think critically, make reasoned judgments, and use evidence effectively to analyse and interpret geographical information and data.
• Pupils will have developed a range of geographical skills, including mapping, fieldwork, data collection, and presentation, enabling them to effectively investigate and problem-solve in geographical contexts.
• Pupils’ cultural awareness, global perspectives, and respect for diversity will be evident through their understanding of different societies, cultures, and environments, as well as their ability to discuss and reflect upon global issues.
• Pupils’ passion for Geography will be reflected in their enthusiasm, engagement, and willingness to explore and investigate the world around them beyond the classroom setting.

Our curriculum at Kenton encompasses a broad and balanced range of content, extensive first-hand experiences, effective teaching strategies, cross-curricular integration, and a focus on cultural awareness and global perspectives. The impact is seen in pupils’ knowledge, skills, understanding, and passion for Geography, enabling them to excel academically and develop into responsible global citizens.