Geography Curriculum Intent

Our Geography curriculum is designed to develop children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. 
Children investigate a range of places – both in Britain and overseas – to help develop their knowledge and understanding of the Earth’s physical and human processes. We are committed to providing children with opportunities to investigate and make enquiries about their local area of Lydiate and Liverpool, so that they can develop of real sense of who they are, their heritage and what makes our local area unique and special; this is enhanced by looking further afield, to include wider localities such as Ormskirk and Chester. We are also committed to developing children’s ability to apply geographical knowledge and develop subject-specific skills to enable to confidently communicate their findings and geographical understanding to a range of audiences. 

Through high quality teaching, we develop the following essential characteristics of geographers: 
•    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 interdependent and 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 conclusions and explain findings. 
•    Fieldwork skills as well as other geographical aptitudes and techniques. 
•    The ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in 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. 

Geography Curriculum Implementation

As part of the planning and preparation process, teachers make consideration to and use of
•    A knowledge organiser which outlines knowledge (including vocabulary) all children are expected to master and apply in lessons; these are shared to promote home-learning, too.
•    A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth concentrating on the geographical knowledge and subject-specific skills suited to the age group.
•    A variety of retrieval activities, decided upon by the teacher, which are relevant to the focus of study; low-stakes quizzing regularly to support learners’ ability to block learning and increase space in the working memory.
•    Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner. 
•    Trips and visiting experts who will enhance the learning experience.
•    Promotion of scholarship through relating learning to current subject developments and relevance to local and global news.
•    Appropriate curriculum themed home learning tasks which children complete with adults at home 

Geography Curriculum Impact

Our Geography Curriculum is high quality, well thought-out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: 
•    A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes. 
•    Tracking of gains in each quiz.
•    Pupil discussions about their learning.