“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Geography Vision Statement

At Our Lady of Lourdes, our intent is to deliver a curriculum which fulfils the duties of the National Curriculum but is also purposeful and relevant to the children. Our intent is to ensure that geography is accessible to all, that it will maximise the outcomes for every child so that they know more, remember more and understand more, whilst fostering a love for geography and the world around them.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Our Earth is part of God’s creation, the home of humankind. By teaching a rich Geography curriculum, we aim to develop a child’s understanding of the world and their place within it. An understanding of Geography enables children to understand issues facing the world today, for example: climate change, food supplies and energy sources. It gives children the knowledge they need to be responsible citizens, both in having an awareness of their local community and the global community. It gives children opportunities to think, to question, to wonder and to develop life-long learning skills.

Geography Intent Statement

The national curriculum for geography aims 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.

Implementation of the Geography Curriculum

The curriculum is led and overseen by the Geography subject lead.  A regular programme of monitoring, evaluation and review and the celebration of good practice will contribute to the ongoing commitment to evolve and improve further.   

The teaching, learning and sequencing of   the Geography curriculum is implemented through: 

• A blocked curriculum approach to ensure coverage and progression in all skills relating to Geography, including: Locational Knowledge; human and physical Geography; Geographical skills and fieldwork.
• Clear learning objectives from which to plan, teach and assess knowledge.
• In EYFS Geography will be taught predominantly through the area of ‘Knowledge and Understanding of the World’.
• Development of long term memory by allowing for repetition of learning within the year and year on year.  
• The identification of subject specific vocabulary, which is taught through each topic.
• Whole school resources which are available to support the teaching of Geography at Our Lady of Lourdes.
• Opportunities for fieldwork to be carried out either locally or further afield.