Geography

Geography Intent

At Highfield, we aim to ensure that children have a passion for and commitment to finding out about the world and the people who live in it. We believe that knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and environments, together with an understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes, help children make sense of the world around them and of their place within it. It develops their curiosity and understanding about people, places and the environment, generates an understanding that the Earth’s features are interconnected and change over time.

Implementation

Our geography curriculum is designed so that children start with ‘themselves’ and their local area before working out to the UK and the rest of the world. Location knowledge and map work are woven throughout all geography topics. To support teaching, staff access a range of resources and planning including The Geographical Association.

The topics chosen promote a progressive range of skills, knowledge and understanding that enable children to link concepts and build upon their learning. For example, skills such as using and devising maps are taught sequentially, so children can deepen their knowledge and understanding year on year.

Enquiry based lessons provide an opportunity to develop critical thinking and analysis. It encourages children to explore their own environment and make connections between their local surroundings and that of contrasting settlements.

We use current case studies, and children are encouraged to consider the various viewpoints of involved stakeholders from diverse backgrounds when responding to localised or global issues. Fieldwork is essential to geographical practice, and whether wading in a river as part of a river study, or visiting locations for comparative studies, children learn how to make observations, collect data, then analyse and present their findings.

Impact

By the time children leave Highfield, they will have a good knowledge of where places are and what they are like plus an extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary. They will be fluent in geographical enquiry and can apply questioning skills and analysis to reach clear conclusions, developing reasoned arguments to explain their findings. They will have the ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.