Geography at Red Hall

“The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exists across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.” ~ Barack Obama

What is the intent of our Geography curriculum?

Red Hall Primary school aims to foster children who are interested in and value all aspects of geography. To inspire children to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world. We will provide exciting teaching and fieldwork to develop their knowledge and skills, which then remain with them for the rest of their lives. Staff will ensure children have a broad understanding of contextual knowledge (social, religious, economic, and political conditions) and that they are able to define physical and human characteristics and how they provide understanding of actions and processes in this amazing subject. We aim to provide exciting lessons indoors and out, which will help to develop their skills in collecting, analysing and communicating their understanding about the data they are shown or have gathered. As teachers, we ensure there is lots of opportunity to apply prior knowledge and skills so children remember. Children will learn to use lots of different resources such as globes, diagrams and maps.

How do we implement our Geography curriculum?

Geography is taught each term with each unit of work spanning half of the term. The geography curriculum is an enquiry-based curriculum. The units develop in complexity and scale over time/key stage. There are opportunities to link with other curriculum areas e.g. data handling in maths, the water cycle in science and environmental issues in PHSE. There is a clear focus on key vocabulary when addressing new and previous learning. Misconceptions are addressed as teachers check prior knowledge and help children to embed what they know. The school uses a variety of teaching and learning styles in geography lessons and our principal aim is to develop the children’s knowledge, skills and understanding in geography. We believe in whole-class teaching methods and combine these with enquiry-based research activities. We encourage children to handle objects and to ask, as well as answer, geographical questions. We offer them the opportunity to use a variety of data, such as maps, globes, pictures, aerial photographs, geographical footage and we enable them to use IT in geography lessons where this serves to enhance their learning.

What is the impact of our Geography curriculum?

The geography curriculum is well constructed and children are taught geography in a planned and regular way ensuring they learn the key geographical knowledge they need to progress. Pupils will know more and remember more so that knowledge is committed to long term memory through the focused and practical lessons. Leaders at all levels check how well pupils are doing through lesson visits, work scrutinies and talking to both staff and pupils to ensure pupils are benefiting from the way geography is taught in school. Disadvantaged and SEND pupils acquire the knowledge they need in order to move onto the next stage.

What experiences will the children receive in Geography?

Children will be provided with memorable moments and will be given many opportunities during their time at Red Hall, from exciting education trips, to wonderful fieldwork experiences in their local environment. We create whole school geography projects, amazing express events for both children and parents to attend and learn to interpret a range of sources of geographical information (including maps, globes and diagrams) which will help them to explore the world forever.

By the end of their time at Red Hall, what will all our children have taken from Geography?

A passion for Geography and a will to carry on discovering the wider world. By the end of Red Hall, we would like children to see themselves as Geographers and have developed a love for the subject which continues into secondary school. It is our aim that every child makes at least good progress within Geography and to be proud of their efforts and all of the achievements they have made. We hope children are enthusiastic about learning and remember all of the learning they have completed. We believe they will become more independent, eager to share their learning and to become the thinkers and doers of the future.