Geography at St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School

At St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, we are committed to providing our children with a high-quality geographical education that ignites their curiosity and helps them develop a deep understanding of the world around them. As a small, rural, and community-focused primary school, we firmly believe in our mission to "care, belong, and learn together in faith," and this ethos is woven throughout our geography curriculum.

Curriculum Overview

We have recently implemented the United Learning Curriculum for Geography to ensure our children receive a well-rounded and progressive education in this subject. This curriculum provides all children, regardless of their background, with:

• Relevant and coherent substantive knowledge of the world that is built gradually using subject-specific pedagogy from EYFS to Year 6 and beyond.
• A balanced view of the countries of the world, to address or even preempt misconceptions and negative stereotypes.
• Explicit teaching of core disciplinary knowledge, and the ability to approach challenging, geographically-valid questions.
• Opportunities to undertake fieldwork, outside the classroom and virtually, that reinforces their learning.
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Implementation

Due to the size of our school, geography is taught in classes, with a focus on carefully sequencing the content to build upon prior knowledge and connect key concepts. For example, map skills are developed methodically over time, starting with identifying features of the local area in EYFS, applying directional vocabulary in KS1, and using map symbols and grid references on OS maps by KS2.

Our implementation of the geography curriculum reflects our broader teaching and learning principles, which prioritise situating new content within existing schemas, using vertical concepts to connect aspects of learning, and providing opportunities for extended, scholarly writing. This ensures our children develop a deep and coherent understanding of the world, grounded in the school's Catholic ethos and Gospel values.

Impact

The careful sequencing of the curriculum, and the focus on formative assessment, are the key drivers of progress in geography at St. Joseph's. Through regular questioning, pupil conferencing, and pre- and post-learning quizzes, our teachers are able to identify and address any gaps or misconceptions, ensuring all children keep up with the challenging and ambitious curriculum.

As a result, our children develop a strong grasp of geographical knowledge and skills, which they are able to apply across a range of contexts. They leave St. Joseph's as confident, curious, and well-informed global citizens, ready to make a positive contribution to their community and the wider world.

Conclusion

At St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, geography is a core part of our curriculum, reflecting our commitment to providing a well-rounded education that prepares our children for the future. Through our carefully sequenced and implemented geography curriculum, underpinned by our Catholic ethos and Gospel values, we aim to nurture curious, knowledgeable, and compassionate young people who can make sense of the world around them.