Intent
At South Ascot Village Primary School, our Geography curriculum aims to inspire pupils' curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We intend to equip our pupils aged 5-11 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.
Through our use of Kapow Primary's Geography scheme, we intend to:
- Develop pupils' geographical knowledge of locations, places and geographical features in the United Kingdom and around the world
- Deepen pupils' understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and how these shape landscapes and environments
- Build pupils' competence in geographical skills, including fieldwork, map reading, and the use of globes, atlases and digital mapping
- Foster pupils' understanding of their place in the world and their responsibilities as global citizens
- Develop critical thinking about environmental issues, sustainability and the impact of human activity on our planet
- Make excellent use of our local area in Ascot and the surrounding environment to provide real-world geographical learning experiences
- Ensure pupils understand diverse cultures and perspectives, avoiding stereotypes and promoting respect for all communities
Implementation
We implement our Geography curriculum through Kapow Primary's comprehensive scheme of work, which provides:
Structured Learning Sequence:
- A carefully sequenced curriculum from EYFS through to Year 6 that builds systematically on prior knowledge
- Clear progression in geographical skills, knowledge and vocabulary across all year groups
- Units that balance locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills
- A coherent approach that moves from the familiar (local area) to the less familiar (wider world), and from concrete to more abstract concepts
High-Quality Resources:
- Ready-to-teach lesson plans with clear learning objectives and success criteria
- Engaging multimedia resources including videos, photographs, maps and interactive materials
- Knowledge organisers for each unit outlining key vocabulary, facts and concepts
- Assessment materials to track pupil progress and identify learning gaps
- Fieldwork planning resources and templates to support practical geographical enquiry
Practical Teaching Approaches:
- Regular opportunities for fieldwork in our local area, including the school grounds, Ascot village and the surrounding environment
- Lessons that encourage geographical enquiry, with pupils asking and investigating questions about places and processes
- Development of map skills using a range of maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping tools including aerial photographs
- Activities that develop key geographical skills including collecting and analysing data, making observations, and drawing conclusions
- Cross-curricular links, particularly with science (e.g. climate, materials), history (e.g. local history) and mathematics (e.g. data handling)
Local Geography:
- Units that make meaningful use of our local area in Ascot, combining National Curriculum objectives such as fieldwork with local area studies The Key Leaders
- Opportunities to study the human and physical features of our immediate environment
- Investigations into how our local area has changed over time and how it connects to the wider world
- Field trips to nearby locations to enhance learning about different environments and settlements
Global Perspectives:
- Careful selection of contrasting locations that broaden pupils' experience and understanding of cultural diversity The Key Leaders
- Content that represents diverse perspectives and avoids stereotyping or over-generalisation
- Study of locations that are culturally different from pupils' own experiences to encourage understanding and appreciation of diversity
- Focus on people-environment relationships and how communities adapt to different environments
Inclusive Practice:
- Differentiated activities to support all learners, including those with SEND
- Resources that are accessible and engaging for all pupils
- Regular opportunities for discussion, collaborative work and practical activities
- Support for pupils to develop geographical vocabulary and express their understanding
Teacher Support:
- Comprehensive teacher guides with subject knowledge support
- CPD materials to develop staff confidence and expertise in teaching geography
- Regular monitoring and evaluation of the curriculum by the subject leader
- Access to Kapow's online platform for planning and resource sharing
Impact
The impact of our Geography curriculum using Kapow will be evident through:
Knowledge and Skills:
- Pupils will develop secure locational knowledge of the UK and the wider world, including continents, oceans, countries and major cities
- They will understand key physical processes (e.g. the water cycle, erosion, climate) and human processes (e.g. settlement, trade, land use)
- Pupils will be able to use and interpret maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping with increasing accuracy and confidence
- They will demonstrate competence in fieldwork techniques, including observation, measurement, recording and presentation of data
- Pupils will confidently use geographical vocabulary and concepts appropriate to their age
Geographical Thinking:
- Pupils will make connections between different geographical information and ideas, understanding how physical and human features interact The Key Leaders
- They will be able to ask perceptive geographical questions and use appropriate methods to investigate them
- Pupils will become increasingly comfortable with 'grey areas' where geographical answers are not clear-cut, such as discussing what makes a 'good' use of land The Key Leaders
- They will understand the importance of perspective and recognise a range of values and views about geographical issues
Engagement and Attitudes:
- Pupils will show enthusiasm and curiosity about the world and different places
- They will demonstrate respect for different cultures, communities and environments
- Pupils will understand their role and responsibilities as global citizens
- They will show awareness of environmental issues and sustainability
Measurable Outcomes:
- Assessment data will show that pupils are meeting or exceeding age-related expectations in geography
- Coverage of all National Curriculum programmes of study objectives for KS1 and KS2 geography The Key Leaders
- Pupil voice will demonstrate enjoyment of geography lessons and the ability to articulate what they have learned
- Work in books, photographs of fieldwork and displays will show progression in geographical knowledge and skills
- Pupils will be well-prepared for KS3 geography with a solid foundation in geographical understanding
Wider Impact:
- Pupils will develop critical thinking and enquiry skills that transfer across the curriculum
- They will show increased environmental awareness and understanding of sustainability
- The curriculum will contribute to pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- Pupils will understand how their local area connects to the wider world
- Pupils will develop an appreciation of the natural world and the importance of protecting it
Monitoring and Evaluation: We will measure impact through:
- Regular assessment of pupils' knowledge and skills using Kapow's assessment tools
- Book scrutiny and learning walks, including observation of fieldwork activities
- Pupil voice interviews and questionnaires about their geographical learning
- Analysis of pupil progress data across year groups
- Subject leader reports to governors on curriculum coverage and pupil outcomes
- Review of fieldwork activities and their effectiveness
- Comparison of outcomes with National Curriculum expectations