Geography

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Intent

At Walmley Junior School, our Geography curriculum is ambitious and designed to inspire curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. It is underpinned by the belief that all pupils, regardless of background or experience, should develop a secure and broad understanding of the world beyond their immediate locality.

We recognise that pupils’ first-hand experiences of geographical features may be limited. Therefore, our curriculum is carefully planned to extend pupils’ knowledge of diverse places, environments and geographical features, ensuring progression from local to global contexts. Learning is enriched through purposeful fieldwork and educational visits, enabling pupils to apply their knowledge and skills in real-world contexts.

Geography is taught as a distinct subject, while being meaningfully linked with History where appropriate. Our curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ ability to ask and answer geographical questions, compare contrasting locations, and understand the key physical and human processes that shape the world.

Through this ambitious curriculum, pupils develop a strong sense of place, an understanding of global issues, and the knowledge and skills needed to become informed, responsible global citizens, well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Implementation

At Walmley Junior School, our Geography curriculum is built around the aims of the National Curriculum and tailored to meet the needs of our pupils. We have developed a bespoke curriculum with strong cross-curricular links, particularly with Science.

Learning is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge, with key skills and geographical vocabulary revisited and developed over time. Vocabulary is explicitly taught and displayed in classrooms to support understanding and enrichment.

Lessons are creative, engaging and accessible to all learners, with appropriate challenge built in. Pupils use a range of resources, including maps, atlases, videos and photographs, and benefit from fieldwork opportunities such as studies of Walmley Village and nearby visits.

We encourage independence and curiosity through enquiry-based learning and research, including the use of different websites. Through this approach, pupils develop strong geographical knowledge and skills that prepare them well for Key Stage 3 and the wider world

Impact

The impact of our Geography curriculum is that pupils leave Walmley Junior School as confident and competent geographers with a genuine passion for learning about and caring for the world around them. They develop a secure understanding of a range of cultures and global issues, enabling them to recognise their role in contributing to a more sustainable future.

Pupils have a strong knowledge of their local area and can confidently read, interpret and use basic maps. By the time they move on to Key Stage 3, pupils are able to explain key physical and human geographical features and processes, applying appropriate subject-specific vocabulary. As a result, pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and for life as informed, responsible global citizens.

Progression of Skills