Burnley Road Academy Geography

Intent

At Burnley Road Academy, we are committed to providing all children with learning opportunities to engage in geography.

Geography is an essential part of the curriculum.

Our intent in teaching is to provide a means of exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and how it has evolved.

Geography explores the relationship between the Earth and its people through the study of place, space and environment.

It contributes to the cultural, social, spiritual and moral life of children as they acquire knowledge of a range of different cultures and traditions, and learn tolerance and understanding of other people and environments.

Geography is the subject in which pupils learn the skills of understanding a locality and how and where people fit into its overall structure.

Developing geographical skills is essential as children live in a world that is wide open to them. With opportunities to travel and work in different cities and countries across the world, pupils need to use efficiently maps, charts and other geographical data. The opportunities for the children to carry out geographical enquiry are also of value.

The teaching of Geography would be difficult without acknowledging the future of our planet. The Geography Curriculum places great importance on the interaction between the physical and the human environment. Many areas of study give opportunities to make children aware of these effects upon their surroundings, their own responsibilities and how they can contribute to improving the environment, however small that contribution might be.

We develop the school values of: Courage, Compassion, Perseverance and Teamwork by

• Encouraging children to ‘have a go’ and to take ownership of their learning.

• To help each other using peer support.

• To be independent learners when appropriate, persist with their work and develop resilience.

• Co-operate with others as part of a team and listen to other children’s ideas.

Implementation

We do this through having a clear and consistent curriculum strategy throughout school, starting in the Foundation Stage with working towards the Early Learning Goals for People, Culture and Communities and The Natural World.

Learning then progresses to being based on the 2014 National Curriculum and planning is closely linked to the expected outcomes within the National Curriculum.

• Regularly revisited study of the local area to enable children to feel connected to the area in which they live and to understand the differences between that area and others around the United Kingdom and the wider world.

• Secure retrieval of knowledge through frequent reviews and regular opportunities to undertake fieldwork and use key equipment such as maps.

• Use of visitors or educational visits to enhance children’s experiences and understanding of the world around them.

Teachers are given the autonomy to source resources and planning they feel will best meet the needs of their cohort. All planning and resourcing must be based around the knowledge mats we have devised which cover the National Curriculum content and skills. In taking this approach, we allow flexibility whilst ensuring complete and appropriate coverage.

The knowledge mats are also Burnley Road Academy Policy for Geography used as revision tools both within individual years groups, but also to review learning from prior years.

Impact 

Within Geography, emphasis is placed acquiring key knowledge and skills to help children gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of each unit of work covered throughout the school. We aim to produce confident, secondary-ready geographers who leave KS2 in line with national expectations.