Our approach to the Geography curriculum is through thematic/topic based approach underpinned by the HCAT accelerated learning approach to teaching and learning.
The key concepts, principles and themes have been developed from the National Curriculum into a range of progressive knowledge and skills through which the children are helped to grow and develop to succeed in 21st century Britain. This knowledge and skills based curriculum allows a creative way of teaching and learning, enabling us to move away from discrete lessons into a more meaningful, engaging, topic based approach.
The Geography curriculum we offer is designed to meet the needs of all our pupils. It is rich, varied, imaginative and ambitious and meets the needs of individual learners by can easily be adapted for pupils with additional needs.
The Accelerated Learning Cycle, based on the work of Alastair Smith, is applied in all lessons. It stems from the idea of a supportive and challenging learning environment. The cycle has active engagement through multi- sensory learning, encourages the demonstrating understanding of learning in a variety of ways and the consolidation of knowing.
A gather, skills, apply approach to planning and delivery of lessons is taken across school to ensure children develop a deep understanding of specific skills and are able to apply these in a range of situations.
Formative assessment is ongoing throughout each lesson. It judges progress and enables teachers to make flexible adaptions to their planned teaching.
Through this regular ongoing assessment, tasks are matched to the ability of each child through differentiated activities, adult support, providing a level of challenge that is stimulating for pupils and questioning skills.
Insight is used as a summative assessment to assess foundation subjects. The knowledge and skills based curriculum is regularly highlighted to identify any gaps or misconceptions to be addressed or passed onto the following teachers.
Our EYFS children also have access to a geography curriculum. The Early Years team plan and assess using the Development Matters Curriculum. This is from birth to 60 months+. Geography is taught discretely and over a range of areas, including Understanding the World: People and Communities, where children learn to recognise similarities and differences between themselves and their families, communities, look at different cultures and traditions. Understanding the World: The World, where children will look at the similarities and differences in relation to places. Talk about the features of their own environments and are introduced to key geographical vocabulary.