GEOGRAPHY
AIMS
At Villa Real School we shape our geography curriculum to ensure it is fully inclusive to every child. Our aims are to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum for Geography; providing a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum; ensuring the progressive development of geographical concepts, knowledge and skills; and for the children to develop a love for geography.
We aim for a high quality geography curriculum which should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. Our teaching equips pupils with knowledge about places and people; resources in the environment; physical and human processes; formation and use of landscapes. We also want children to develop geographical skills: collecting and analysing data; using maps, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping to name and identify countries, continents and oceans; and communicating information in a variety of ways. We want children to enjoy and love learning about geography by gaining this knowledge and skills, not just through experiences in the classroom, but also with the use of fieldwork and educational visits. We aim for pupils to develop an understanding of the world they live in and a sense of community.
CONTENT
Pupils/students on pathway 2 follow a sensory curriculum. They explore geographical skills and understanding through a range of sensory activities bespoke to their individual needs.
Pupils/students on pathway 3/4 access Geography as part of their formal curriculum.
Early Years Foundation Stage
At Villa Real School, the EYFS children have a bespoke curriculum set out in their individualised MTPs that plan objectives in each of the learning strands that builds upon their unique starting points, and follows the sequential developmental pathways set out in Development Matters (the non-statutory curriculum guidance for EYFS).
In our Early Years classes at Villa Real School, we deliver the curriculum through a themed /topic approach so that learning is cross curricular and covers all areas of the EYFS Curriculum.
The statutory EYFS Framework (Sept 2021) Educational Programmes for Geography is as follows;
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Understanding the World
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Experiences to reflect their community
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Ensure we widen their experiences from their home life – this requires good relationship / sharing with families and carers
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Ensure we provide real life opportunities
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Provide broad experiences through stories, videos and visits including non-fiction
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Develop basic vocabulary to support later learning in Science, Geography, History and R.E.
Learning in the EYFS is recorded and assessed through daily observations captured alongside their bespoke MTPs in their EYFS learning journal file, on Earwig and when in Reception, workbooks.
Progress in the EYFS is tracked on BSquared using the explicit EYFS section, which then feeds into the following Engagement Steps and Progression Steps accordingly, as they move into Year 1 onwards.
From September 2021, those that are able, will take part in the statutory Reception Baseline Assessment.
Key Stages One and Two
Geography takes on more of a formal lesson structure when moving onto Key Stages One and Two and the National Curriculum principles and guidelines are adhered to. Geography is taught on a weekly basis and follows a 4-year curriculum overview of topics e.g. Italy and Volcanoes.
Key Stage One pupils begin by exploring their local area and where they are in the world. They then begin to study other areas of the UK and aspects of the followed e.g. seas and oceans or poles and equators.
Key Stage Two pupils then enhance this knowledge further by gaining a more in-depth understanding of the UK and such as coasts and forests. Pupils will also explore aspects of Europe and the World.
Key Stage Three
Key Stage 3 pupils follow the National Curriculum principles and guidelines for Geography. Geography is taught on a weekly basis and follows a 4-year curriculum overview of topics. Curriculum should build on prior knowledge and skills developed in prior key stages.
14-19 Provision
Students in the 14-19 provision study Geography on a weekly basis. The curriculum uses the National Curriculum as a benchmark which is extended to meet the needs of all students.
Students follow a rolling programme of accreditation. This includes ASDAN Short Course, ASDAN Towards Independence and NCFE Entry Level 3 Occupational studies.
PEDAGOGY
Geography is taught as a discrete subject. Pupils work at their own pace, at a level suitable to each pupil. Main methods of delivery are kinaesthetic with visual and auditory prompts, to support learning and progression in a safe and controlled environment.
Within Geography lessons, students will be encouraged to develop their geographical skills and understanding. All lessons are individualised and personalised to the students’ needs and abilities. All students have access to high quality resources to enhance their learning.
As geographical skills and language become more abstract and classification becomes more of a challenge, students will revisit key language and concepts throughout their learning to strengthen recall and memory. These abstract concepts are taught in practical ways to ensure students develop a robust understanding and to make the concepts as concrete as possible.
ASSESSMENT
Formative assessment is in the form of quick quizzes, recalling knowledge and skills developed in previous lessons and displaying understanding of key vocabulary and concepts.
Progress of all students is monitored using B squared and judged on individual targets as part of our holistic REAL assessment method.
EVALUATION
The Geography Coordinator monitors the planning, participates in regular learning walks and work scrutinies, and moderates’ pupil work giving feedback to class teachers each term. The subject coordinator aims to meet with other geography teachers across County Durham to look at work from pupils in different schools and moderate work together.