Curriculum Intent

Our geography curriculum aims to inspire curiosity in students with their local geographical environment, the country we live in and the wider world. By equipping students with the knowledge of diverse places, people and regions of the world, we aim to offer a deeper understanding of how the world works. Throughout their time in school, we hope that students develop a sense of responsibility to the world they live in and become more socially, and environmentally accountable.

Curriculum Implementation

At South Borough, our geography curriculum is planned using the National Curriculum aims and requirements. We teach weekly geography lessons during three terms per year.

Geography learning begins in Early Years, where children experience and develop early geographical skills and vocabulary. They describe their immediate environment, explore and identify similarities and differences between the natural world around them and contrasting environments and develop an understanding of some important geographical processes and changes. Building on the foundations set out in Early Years, the curriculum is then sequenced to enable pupils to gradually widen their sense of place and scale, from their immediate geographical area to a progressively more global view. This is organised and shared in the long-term overview.

Geography lessons at South Borough afford children with opportunities to enquire, research and collaborate whilst developing a knowledge of the world around them. Opportunities within lessons are given for children to review prior learning; explore what they might already know about a place and engage in purposeful, meaningful and fun learning experiences that expand their knowledge and lead to long term knowledge retention. Specific skills such as map reading, subject specific vocabulary and locational knowledge form an important part of geography lessons.

The children are provided with hands-on educational experiences by giving them the opportunity to explore the local landscape of Maidstone and the further county. The school is situated in an urban centre with close rural connections which provides children an opportunity to engage with many aspects of human and physical geography, and carry out field work to practise their skills. Learning in geography is further enhanced and reinforced through additional activities in a range of areas, including (but not exclusive to) discussions of current local, national and global issues, for example through the use of Newsround, in regular assemblies and through extended reading opportunities.

Geography is assessed against the skills and knowledge anchor points identified for each unit. During lessons, assessment is continuous with teachers providing live feedback and assessing recorded work in Humanities Books. End of unit assessments also take place in geography to give a clear picture of pupil's knowledge and progress.