Geography

"What is our knowledge worth if we know nothing about the world that sustains us, nothing about natural systems and climate, nothing about other countries and cultures?”     (Jonathon Porritt- Environmentalist)

Intent

At Manor Park Primary Academy, we aim to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world through Geography.  Our intention is to improve every pupil’s cultural and geographical understanding of the world around them, including their own heritage and location in the world. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives; to promote the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes and their impacts. 

At Manor Park, every child engages in quality Geography education from their entry into Nursery until the end of KS2 in Year 6.  Geography is taught through the vehicle of Cornerstones Curriculum 22 Driver Projects which are adapted to meet the needs of all of our pupils. Links are made through the connected curriculum where meaningful. The curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, throughout their time at school and also to their further education and beyond.

Implementation

The Cornerstones 22 Curriculum maintains strong links to the National Curriculum to ensure all aspects, knowledge and skills in Geography are being taught across the academy and that foundation knowledge is built upon from the EYFS Framework. Teachers are creative and practical in their approach to teaching, working in line with the school's teaching & learning strategy, with the ability to support children in retaining and recalling knowledge through various methods such as low stakes quizzing and use of knowledge organisers. We use assessment for learning within all lessons to ensure that teaching and learning is relevant, teases out and addresses misconceptions which help to plan for next steps.

At Manor Park, we have an electronic Geography knowledge and skills progression map available, outlining clear sequencing of knowledge, skills and vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6. Please contact the school directly for further information. 

Please click here to see an example of the progression across one aspect of Geography learning. 

Please find our Geography Curriculum Map below. 

Impact

Through the high quality teaching of Geography taking place, we will see the impact of the subject in different ways.

Through pupil voice, children talk enthusiastically about the skills and knowledge they have acquired. Children are inquisitive and engaged in their learning and want to find out more. They often complete research independently through projects and home learning to further their own enjoyment about their Geography Learning Project.

Books will show a range of sequenced Geography learning being covered. Links within the connected curriculum are made where meaningful and engaging learning set as appropriate. The school environment will be Geography rich through displays in classrooms and around the school, books and resources available. 

We monitor progress regularly through learning walks, book looks and discussions with pupils. Monitoring shows that standards in Geography are high. 

The Maestro assessment tool allows staff to regularly monitor the progress of pupils and provide evidence for robust monitoring of our curriculum. 

Geography Enrichment

As well as engaging activities within the Cornerstone's Learning Projects, the children at Manor Park have the opportunity to participate in various enrichment activities. Geography clubs run after school, for example gardening club, and children have the opportumity to grow their own vegetables in our allotment. Year 3 have weekly Forest School sessions throughout Autumn and Spring term; Reception and Year 1 then have weekly Forest School Sessions through Summer term. The Eco-Committee meets half termly to discuss any environmental actions we should be carrying out to ensure our school is as sustainable as possible, and the children are able to take part in an Eco trip to RHS Wisley Gardens. Here, they can learn about planting, how to care for plants and how we can care for the environment. Children in Year 3 and 4 have the opportunity to go on residential trips to Juniper Hall and High Ashurst, where they explore woodland survival, habitats, animals and take part in outdoor activities such as fire lighting and den building.  Year 5 take part annually in the Green Schools Project, where they work in teams to look at the schools carbon footprint and create an action plan and develop a project to lower our carbon footprint. 

As part of the Geography Curriculum, children are able to take part in fieldwork trips within the local environment. They go on walks to the local park or around the local area, where they are able to identify physical and human features, how local areas are used and how they can be improved. 

There are also many themed days the children are able to celebrate and take part in such as Earth Day and Global Recycling Day. The children welcome visitors such as Recycling Rockstars, who come in to help us understand and celebrate these days and also take part in activities within the classroom. This supports their understanding of the importance of promoting these days.