Geography

At St Mary’s we aim to deliver a high-quality Geography curriculum, which will work alongside our Starfish Malawi initiative.  We use Geography as a tool to provoke and answers questions about the natural and human world. Lessons at St Marys develop children’s knowledge of places and environments throughout the world, an understanding of maps, and a range of problem- solving and investigative skills both inside and outside the classroom. Geography is an important link between the natural and social sciences; it is a focus within the curriculum for understanding and resolving issues about the environment and sustainability. 

We aim to provide a Geography education which inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Our teaching will equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. 

Geography at St Marys is taught through our topic-based curriculum. Geography lessons are planned in each year group to develop breadth and depth in the progression of geographical skills. Learning questions challenge pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical and open manner.  At St Mary’s we aim to provide children with experiences which enable them to develop as geographers, using maps and including fieldwork opportunities during our outdoor learning and exploration of environmental issues. We believe this will support the moral and social responsibility we would like to foster in our children in order for them to care about the environment and build a sense of awe and wonder about the world.

At St Mary’s our children develop into expert geographers who enjoy carrying out fieldwork opportunities and locality studies. They are able to consider the moral, social and cultural aspects of their studies in Geography, and to encourage a sense of awe and wonder about the world. We believe that Geography can foster a sense of responsibility for our environment and that our pupils leave St Mary’s equipped to think about the quality and vulnerability of our environment and the contribution they could make towards its sustainability.