Intent Statement

At Woolton Primary School, our Geography curriculum aims to inspire a lifelong love of learning, ignite curiosity about the world, and foster a deep care for the people, places and environments around us. From EYFS through to Year 6, Geography forms an important part of our school curriculum, which is designed to provide a progressive and knowledge-rich pathway that will equip learners with the Geographical skills they need to excel in high school and beyond.

Vocabulary is central to our Geographical teaching at Woolton, granting children the knowledge they need to communicate their ideas confidently and effectively, and encouraging them to use geographical terminology with accuracy and purpose. We also strive to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND, develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to explore key geographical ideas and to appreciate their place in our diverse world. We do this by ensuring high-quality teaching, appropriate scaffolding and adaptive approaches.

In line with the aims of the National Curriculum, we aim to equip all children with a secure understanding of their local area, the United Kingdom and the wider world, developing their knowledge of diverse cultures and global communities. By forging links between these, we allow our children to better understand the interactions between people and places, providing a greater geographical context for their own lives. It is also important that all children are equipped with the core geographical skills they need to succeed. This includes partaking in fieldwork, map-reading, data collection and geographical enquiries.

Ultimately, Geography at Woolton Primary plays an important role in encouraging our children to become responsible and caring members of our community through fostering cultural awareness, environmental responsibility and respect for difference. As such, our intent is to nurture respectful, responsible and informed young citizens who understand their role in shaping a sustainable future.

Implementation Statement

At Woolton, Geography is taught through a carefully sequenced and knowledge-rich curriculum that builds progressively on prior learning from the Early Years through to Year 6. Lessons are structured to develop both substantive knowledge (geographical facts and concepts) and disciplinary knowledge (the ability to think and investigate like a geographer). This is achieved by:

-Ongoing formative assessment that is used to identify next steps, address misconceptions and ensure teaching is responsive to all learners

-Using enquiry-based learning with adaptable tasks so all pupils, including those with SEND, can engage meaningfully with key questions

-Embedding the use of key vocabulary into every topic, ensuring that new and ambitious terminology is explicitly taught, revisited and applied in meaningful contexts

-The use of high-quality resources, such as atlases, 3D models, digital mapping, symbols and images, ensuring all learners can access information and deepening understanding

-Targeted questioning and support from teachers and support staff to promote independence and participation

-Forging cross-curricular links to help pupils make meaningful connections and build on their strengths from other subjects

-Regular communication with our SENDCo to ensure that planning reflects pupils’ individual targets and includes strategies that promote engagement

-Participating in enrichment experiences such as local fieldwork, outdoor learning and themed curriculum days, which enhance engagement and help children make real-world connections, as well as developing hands-on, practical Geographical skills

-Ongoing formative assessment that is used to identify next steps, address misconceptions and ensure teaching is responsive to all learners

Impact Statement

By the end of their primary journey, pupils at Woolton Primary School will leave with a secure body of geographical knowledge, a rich and precise vocabulary, and the confidence to enquire, investigate and express their understanding of the world around them. Children will demonstrate respect for different peoples and cultures, show awareness of environmental issues, and understand the importance of caring for their planet. Most importantly, pupils will have developed a lasting curiosity about the world around them and a positive, informed attitude towards their role as global citizens.

The impact of our Geography curriculum is measured through various strategies including pupil voice, ensuring everyone feels included, confident and able to succeed in the lessons we teach, book looks, learning walks, fieldwork evidence, teacher assessment and evaluation of progress against curriculum expectations, and regular monitoring that tracks the participation and outcomes of SEND pupils alongside their peers. In this way, our pupils leave primary school as confident, informed and inclusive young geographers who are prepared for the next stage of their learning.