St. Gregory's geography curriculum helps pupils build powerful knowledge of the world. Conceptual understanding is at the heart of our geography curriculum and children will learn about key geographical concepts including place, space, the environment, and how the world around them is interconnected.

Throughout the curriculum, children will consider how we know about the world, what geographers do, what they look for, and how they may interpret their observations. By answering questions such as ‘What would a geographer say about this place?’, we encourage children to think about the discipline of geography and how knowledge is formed.

St. Gregory's geographers will have many opportunities to make interesting and complex connections between what they study in geography and other subjects such as history and science. The knowledge-rich approach to a primary geography curriculum supports children to understand the world around them, to think deeply about global issues and to develop their own sense of identity; knowing who they are and equipping them with the power to determine their futures.

Geography Curriculum Implementation

As part of the planning and preparation process, teachers make consideration to and use of

• A knowledge organiser which outlines knowledge (including vocabulary) all children are expected to master and apply in lessons; these are shared to promote home-learning, too.
• A cycle of lessons for each subject, which carefully plans for progression and depth concentrating on the geographical knowledge and subject-specific skills suited to the age group.
• A variety of retrieval activities, decided upon by the teacher, which are relevant to the focus of study; low-stakes quizzing regularly to support learners’ ability to block learning and increase space in the working memory.
• Challenge questions for pupils to apply their learning in a philosophical/open manner. 
• Trips and visiting experts who will enhance the learning experience.
• Promotion of scholarship through relating learning to current subject developments and relevance to local and global news.
• Appropriate curriculum themed home learning tasks which children complete with adults at home 

Geography Curriculum Impact

Our Geography Curriculum is high quality, well thought-out and is planned to demonstrate progression. If children are keeping up with the curriculum, they are deemed to be making good or better progress. In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: 

• A reflection on standards achieved against the planned outcomes. 
• Tracking of gains in each quiz.
• Pupil discussions about their learning. 

Bringing Geography to life at St. Gregory's