Aims and Objectives

Through their work in geography, children learn about their local area and compare their life in this area with that in other regions in the United Kingdom and in the rest of the world. They learn how to draw and interpret maps and they develop the skills of research, investigation, analysis and problem-solving. Two of our school values are ‘Be Curious’ and ‘Be Respectful’. Through their growing knowledge and understanding of human geography, children gain an appreciation of life in other cultures. Geography teaching also motivates children to find out about the physical world and enables them to recognize the importance of sustainable development for the future of mankind.

At Whitchurch School we follow the statutory guidance for geography as stated in the New Primary Curriculum 2014.

• develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
• understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
• are competent in the geographical skills needed to:

• collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes.
• interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
• communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

Through the programmes of study, the children acquire and develop the key knowledge that has been identified within each unit and across each year group. Key skills are also mapped for each year group and are progressive throughout the school. The curriculum is designed to ensure that children are able to acquire key geographical knowledge through practical experiences; access to a range of mapping tools, building arguments and explaining concepts confidently. The school’s approach to geography takes account of the school’s own context, ensuring access to people with specialist expertise and places of geographical interest as part of the school’s commitment to learning outside the classroom. Cross-curricular opportunities are also identified, mapped, and planned to ensure contextual relevance. Children are encouraged to ask questions and be curious, and a love of geography is nurtured through a whole school ethos and a varied geography curriculum.