Geography

Geography

At Egerton Primary School we are committed to providing all children with learning opportunities to engage in geography. This policy sets out a framework within which teaching and non-teaching staff can work, and gives guidance on planning, teaching and assessment. Geography explores the relationship between earth and its people. Geography studies the location of the physical and human features of the earth and the processes, systems and interrelations that create and influence them. The character of places, the subject’s central focus derives from the interaction of people and environment. An understanding of geography is essential to our understanding of the world and the skills and knowledge of Geography have a wide application in everyday life. Geographical fieldwork and investigations provide important opportunities for working in teams and developing individual responsibility. The Geography curriculum is structured into four key areas of learning:

• Geographical skills and field work

• Human and Physical Geography

• Locational Knowledge

• Place Knowledge

In addition, to these areas, the school provides children opportunities to consider the importance of sustainability and builds in these opportunities under a fifth area of ‘Responsibility’.

To address these five areas, the Geography curriculum at Egerton Primary is taught through a series of key concepts. These subject specific concepts are explored through each Geography unit and provide lenses through which to consider different aspects of Geography. These concepts are revisited through different year groups as children move through the school to deepen their understanding and build their understanding progressively. Units are planned so that hierarchical knowledge is learnt at the appropriate points and further learning is cumulative each year. Second order concepts are also developed across the curriculum to give children the knowledge and skills needed to communicate their understanding and relate their knowledge to real world examples. Learning wherever possible is linked to the local area, however, the school understands the importance of providing a wider aspect of Geography too, to improve the children’s understanding of the world around them. In addition, every opportunity is given to promote the acquisition of language, vocabulary and to develop their speech and language skills. In addition to the development of geographical knowledge, fieldwork is an integral element of the geography curriculum. Wherever possible, children are given real world opportunities to observe physical and human features, collect data and take measurements which can be used to make comparisons and draw conclusions.