Geography

It is crucial that the children have an understanding of the physical world and human society in which they are growing up. The study of geography aids children to develop knowledge and understanding of local, regional and world environments and offers the opportunity to develop the practical skills of map reading and fieldwork. Through Geography we can also: improve pupils' skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT, develop pupils' thinking skills, promote pupils awareness and understanding of gender, cultural, spiritual and moral issues and also develop pupils as active and responsible citizens.

"A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time." (The National Curriculum in England 2014)

Our principle aims are to:

• stimulate pupils' interest in and curioisity about their surroundings.
• increase their knowledge and undestanding of the changing world.
• encourage pupils to ask questions and propose solutions to environmental problems.
• foster a sense of responsibility for the earth and its resources.

Additionally we aim to ensure that all pupils:

• 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.