Geography Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard, our Geography curriculum is designed to ignite a lifelong curiosity and fascination with the world and its diverse people. We aim to provoke deep questioning and provide answers about the natural and human aspects of the world, fostering a comprehensive cultural and geographical understanding in every pupil. This includes connecting their own heritage and location to the wider world, and promoting a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

Driven by the Geography National Curriculum and the PYP framework, our curriculum ensures that children develop essential, progressive, and transferable knowledge and skills. As an inherently investigative subject, Geography supports their spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development, preparing them effectively for further education and beyond.

Implementation

At Leigh Academy Cherry Orchard, our Geography curriculum is implemented through the rigorous application of the National Curriculum, ensuring comprehensive coverage of geographical knowledge and skills across the academy. We utilise Subject Progression Maps to guarantee clear, sequential development of skills, knowledge, and vocabulary, ensuring learning is revisited and built upon year on year.

Our commitment to celebrating diversity is reflected in our learning environment, including world maps that acknowledge pupils' heritage and cultures, and opportunities to understand our rich community through school events, classroom activities, and assemblies.

Each topic begins by allowing children to demonstrate prior knowledge and articulate their own lines of inquiry. We maximise the use of our local area for relevant, hands-on learning outside the classroom to achieve desired geographical outcomes.

Assessment for learning is embedded in all lessons to ensure teaching is responsive and informs next steps. Through termly planning meetings, we reflect on previous learning to continuously inform and refine our planning. Progress in the knowledge and skills outlined in the National Curriculum is formally assessed using the LACO FSF documentation.

Impact

The high quality teaching of Geography will be evident in several key areas, demonstrating the positive impact of the curriculum on our pupils and the wider school environment.

Pupil Outcomes

• Knowledge and Engagement: Through pupil voice, children will articulate the geographical knowledge and skills they have acquired. They will demonstrate high engagement, proactively seeking out further learning through independent research, projects, and homework, fostering a lifelong enjoyment of the subject.

• Cultural and Global Awareness: Pupils will develop a strong understanding and respect for diverse cultures, connecting their learning to the school, local area, and global communities.

• Future Geographers: As future geographers, children will apply their understanding of the world to make informed decisions and positively influence their lives.

Curriculum and Monitoring Evidence

• Progression and Coverage: Work scrutiny (books) will evidence a broad range of geographical topics, clear progression of skills, and effective cross-curricular links where appropriate.

• Learning Environment: The school environment, including termly Learning Journeys and displays, will visibly reflect and celebrate the geography being taught.

Overall Standards

• Assessments and monitoring will confirm that standards and attainment in Geography are consistently high and align with those achieved in other core subject areas.