‘The study of geography is about more than just memorising places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. In the end, it’s about using that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.’ Barrack Obama

At Parkgate Primary School, we aim for a high-quality geography curriculum to inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people.

The Geography curriculum offer follows the national curriculum in KS1 and KS2 and the EYFS Statutory Framework and Development Matters in the early years. The Geography curriculum is ambitious and designed to give all learners, particularly the most disadvantaged and those with special educational needs, the knowledge and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. Where required, pedagogy is adapted so that all pupils, including disadvantaged pupils, and those with SEND are on the same knowledge journey towards the same endpoints. 

Our curriculum is carefully weighted with equal priority given to both substantive knowledge (locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and geographical skills and fieldwork) and disciplinary knowledge (how to work like a geographer). Clearly defined substantive knowledge end points are identified at the end of the unit and disciplinary knowledge end points at the end of each key stage. Components (building blocks) are carefully sequenced so new knowledge builds on what has been previously taught and leads to the end points. 

Key concepts, for example, 'population, 'climate’ and 'settlement' are covered and repeated throughout the curriculum. Vocabulary is also taught explicitly in every lesson. Keywords and concepts are mapped out in this document. There are also opportunities for developing reading in geography.

In Early Years and KS1 plans are written following the end points and key concepts. This leads into a carefully tailored and sequenced curriculum taught in KS2, which has been developed pulling from resources such as Kapow and subject specialism from Secondary School colleagues in the Trust. This is enhanced with additional mapping tasks to practise key geographical mapping skills, such as using grid references. Links are also made to prior concepts to help the children know and remember more.

Review and retrieval is a key part of every lesson. Quick quizzes and knowledge organisers are used to support this.

Our pupils represent an urban area of Coventry and this is reflected through an inclusive, diverse curriculum which is supported through additional extracurricular focusses on events such as woodland learning and structured fieldwork opportunities.

The scheme of work supports our teachers in delivering focussed and engaging lessons which help to raise standards and allow all children to achieve to their full potential. This includes children of all abilities, social and cultural backgrounds, those with disabilities, EAL speakers and SEND statements and non-statemented.