Geography Curriculum Intent

The geography curriculum at ALP trust is designed to equip pupils with knowledge of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Progression through the ‘Global Enquirers’ and ‘Sustainability Ambassadors’ Knowledge, Skills and Understanding Passports provides a pathway towards living fulfilling lives and contributing to society, through fostering their curiosity and encouraging them to ask perceptive questions, allowing them to feel empowered to make changes. The curriculum focuses on pupils developing a sound understanding of locational knowledge and the world they live in.

The geography curriculum is planned and sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before, working towards defined end-points in the form of enquiry questions. Engaging ‘launches’ and experiences provide a hook for each enquiry and there are close links with history in all year groups. Units of work allow opportunities for pupils to learn about influential local, national and global individuals and have a clear focus on building vocabulary through attached language plans. The curriculum embeds opportunities for pupils to use Skills for Life and powerful knowledge is interleaved to promote the transfer of knowledge into long term memory. Pupils gain an awareness of global issues, allowing them to actively engage with the role they can play as citizens. 

Within EYFS, pupils begin to gain a wider experience of the world around them. Children learn through first-hand experiences to explore, observe, problem solve, predict, think critically, make decisions and talk about their natural environment. In KS1, the geography curriculum focuses on pupils developing an understanding of the methods of geographical enquiry while initially gaining an understanding of their local area before gradually increasing their understanding of the wider world. Pupils are taught how to use and collect basic geographical data while investigating their environment.  A challenging and broad curriculum in KS2 further develops pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding while providing opportunities to communicate information in a variety of ways. They study the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features, providing a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes. Their knowledge, skills and understanding in each topic is underpinned by a solid foundation of locational awareness. The curriculum is planned to enable opportunities for pupils to use embedded basic skills in English and mathematics in a variety of contexts.