Geography
At Newlyn School, we see geography as an exciting subject and we aim to develop the children’s curiosity, fascination and knowledge about different people, places and environments and the connections between them.
We engage the children through geography topics, ensuring that there is at least one a year, e.g. Natural Disasters, Rain Forests, Oceans and Seas. Through these, we want the children to understand the earth’s key human and physical processes and know how the earth’s features are shaped, interconnected and changed over time, progressively building their skills in mapwork, fieldwork and enquiry-based learning. The children will become increasingly aware of the geography of the local environment and of significant human and physical features in the wider world as well as current geographical issues and dilemmas.
Geography also helps us to understand how and why places are changing and enables us to think about the future. We encourage the children to develop responsible attitudes and values and to think about how they themselves can influence change and become environmentally-aware, active citizens. Our children are inspired by the news and, in particular, issues affecting the environment.
Intent
At Newlyn School, we believe that Geography should inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world, promoting the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. We encourage the children to develop responsible attitudes and values and to think about how they themselves can influence change and become environmentally-aware, active citizens.
We use the national curriculum scheme of work for geography as the basis for our curriculum planning. We have adapted the national scheme to the local circumstances of our school. We begin by focusing on our understanding of the local area and then look out at world around us and finally consider our own impact on our world.
We engage the children through geography topics, e.g. Natural Disasters, Rain Forests, Oceans and Seas. Through these, we want the children to understand the earth’s key human and physical processes and know how the earth’s features are shaped, interconnected and changed over time, progressively building their skills in map work, fieldwork and enquiry-based learning. The children will become increasingly aware of the geography of the local environment and of significant human and physical features in the wider world as well as current geographical issues and dilemmas.
Provision for geography activities is part of the overall topic planning completed for each class on a termly basis, with one termly topic having geography as the main focus. Children of all abilities have the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge in each unit and, through planned progression built into the scheme of work, we offer them an increasing challenge as they move up the school.
It may be taught through topic work, discretely or as part of an English lesson, where a literacy skill is being taught using geographical content.
Skills and knowledge covered will be recorded in teachers’ geography planning.
Impact
The impact is to ensure that children at Newlyn School are equipped with geographical skills and knowledge to help them understand their place in the world. As children progress throughout the school, they develop a deep knowledge, understanding and appreciation of their local area and its place within the wider geographical context. They also develop responsible attitudes and values, shown by responses to the news and, in particular, issues affecting the environment.
The assessment of children’s work is on-going during lessons to ensure that the understanding is being achieved and that progress is being made. Feedback is given to the children as soon as possible, and the school’s Marking Policy will guide marking work. At two points throughout the academic year (after the main geography topic and at the end of the academic year), all teachers assess the level at which the children in their class are working, using the Newlyn Assessment Grid and a quiz. This information is then passed on to the children’s subsequent teachers to ensure effective progression and a copy of this information is also given to the subject leaders for their records.