Geography

3 I'S Statement

Our School Definition of Geography:

Geography tells us more about our planet and the world we live in

Intent Statement - Geography  

At St Joseph’s School, we are Geographers! We want our children to love Geography! They will have no limits to their ambitions and have opportunities to grow up to be cartographers, ecologists, town planners, conservationists or weather forecasters. Through our teaching of Geography, we provide purposeful learning to explore, appreciate and understand the world in which we live and how it has evolved. Pupils at St Joseph’s are able to explore the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of place, space and environment. 

Through our Commando Joe topic work, pupils will learn the skills of understanding locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and have opportunities to develop their geographical and fieldwork skills. In addition to our topic learning, Geography focused theme days and focus weeks also form an important part of our curriculum. We intend for our children to become passionate and knowledgeable about their local community and beyond, by learning through experiences in practical and fieldwork activities. 

Implementation Statement - Geography  

At St Joseph’s, Geography is taught in every year group through the Commando Joe topic work, with additional themes and topic days throughout the year 

• Our Geography curriculum is based around the Commando Joe scheme of work, and we ensure that all National Curriculum objectives are covered over the year. 
• The progression of skills is tracked and progresses in each year group by using the Rainbow Continuum.  
• Evidence of Geography work will be shown in each child’s topic work book.  
• Location knowledge and map work are woven throughout all Geography topics. 

• We have developed a progression of skills with each year group, which enables pupils to build on and develop their knowledge and skills each year. 
• In order 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. 
• We use Practise/Going Deeper opportunities to ensure understanding and skills are kept up to date and relevant for our geography objectives. 
• At the start of each topic, children will review previous learning and will have the opportunity to share what they already know about a current topic. 
• Children understand the subject of Geography, and its definition which are shared at the beginning of every Geography lesson across the school. 

• Each new Geography lesson will begin with 3 questions to recap prior learning and assess children against previously taught geography objectives. 
• Each Geography lesson will finish with 3 questions to consolidate and check children’s learning throughout the session to ensure accurate assessments of the taught skills and knowledge.  
• Children have opportunities to develop their geographical skills at home through half-termly topic homeworks which are set in each class linking to their Commando Joe unit. 
• Effective CPD and standardisation opportunities are available to staff to ensure high levels of confidence and knowledge are maintained. 
• To support teaching, staff access the Rainbow Continuum which details the progression in skills across Geography throughout each Key Stage. 

• Staff have access to National College in order to develop their own subject knowledge and enhance their teaching of Geography. This can be accessed by any staff wanting to further develop their CPD. 
• Effective use of educational visits and visitors are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within 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 ensures that children are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it. 
• Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers which ensures that all pupils can access the Geography curriculum. 

• Children are assessed against the taught objectives termly and are assessed as working above, at or below. 

Impact Statement - Geography  

The impact of this curriculum design will lead to the children of St Joseph’s making progress over time across key stages relative to a child’s individual starting point and their progression of skills. Our Geography curriculum will lead pupils to be enthusiastic Geography learners, evidenced in a range of ways, including pupil voice and their work which is evidenced in their topic work books.