Our Mission Statements
Intent
At Latchford St James, the teaching of Geography forms an integral part of the curriculum. We believe Geography lessons should be both enjoyable and informative. Through quality teaching and learning we intend for children to become Geographers, developing skills that not only benefit them in the study of geography, but skills that can be transferred to other subjects and areas of life.
We believe the study of geography through enquiry-based learning inspires children’s curiosity, encourages them to ask critical questions and enables them to have a better understanding of the society in which they live and the wider world around them.
Through this approach we aim to ensure children have:
- An excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like, both in Britain and the wider world.
- A comprehensive understanding of the ways in which places are different but still interconnected.
- An extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
- Fluency in complex, geographical enquiry and the ability to apply questioning skills, as well as effective presentation techniques.
- The ability to reach clear conclusions and explain their findings.
- Excellent fieldwork skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques including map reading skills.
- The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in very good knowledge and understanding about current issues in society and the environment.
- A genuine interest in the subject and a real sense of curiosity about the world and the people who live here.
Implementation
Our Geography curriculum aims to inspire children to become curious and fascinated with the world around them and the people who live in it. We aim to equip children with knowledge about their own local area of Warrington as well as diverse places, people and environments around the globe. Our children will learn about globally significant places, how they have changed through time and how they differ from where they live.
KS1 children will learn of their local area and including key human and natural geographical features as well as learning about the key geographical features of the countries that make up the British Isles and the 7 continents of the world.
As children move to KS2 they will develop their knowledge of the British Isles and the wider world with more in-depth studies of the UK, Europe and the Americas. Children will develop geographical skills in order to understand their learning and make sense of the information they discover.
The teaching of geography at Latchford St James begins with assessments of children’s prior knowledge, in order to build lines of geographical enquiry appropriately. From these assessments, enquiry questions posed at the beginning of topics and subsequent lessons allow children to discover answers to questions that are relevant to them while still covering the key geographical knowledge needed in the study of these topics. Children will explore the answers to these questions through a range of sources and field work after which will be able to present their findings in a variety of different ways. Throughout geography topics, children will be introduced to subject specific vocabulary and will become comfortable and confident using this language when presenting their findings.
To ensure the knowledge learned at Latchford St James stays with children as they move further up the school and into their next phases of learning, children are also equipped with child led knowledge organisers to record what they deem to be key facts, important locations and any subject specific vocabulary at the end of lessons. This coupled with repetition of significant information throughout topics will ensure children retain the knowledge learned in geography lessons at Latchford St James.
Impact
The impact of the teaching of geography at Latchford St James is that, through our enquiry-based curriculum and the progression of skills developed throughout the school years, children will nurture an enjoyment of the study of geography and will gradually gain and develop the skills to become independent learners.
This will be measured through end of lesson pupil assessments, end of topic teacher assessments, learning walks, discussion around work in books and conversations with pupils, all of which are intended to help teachers support all children’s progression and enjoyment of geography all across the school.
OUR TOPICS
Below you will find a selection of knowledge organisers the children will use during their study of Geography. The knowledge organisers give the children some information about their topic while allowing them to add knowledge they learn during their lessons.
