Intent:

Our Geography curriculum at Pyrcroft Grange is meticulously crafted to ignite pupil’s curiosity and passion for the world and its inhabitants, fostering a lifelong fascination. It aims to broaden pupil’s understanding and knowledge of diverse places, spanning from Britain to The Amazon Rainforest, and beyond emphasizing the Earth’s physical and human phenomena.

We prioritize enabling pupils to explore and inquire about their immediate surroundings in Chertsey, Runnymede, and Surrey, enhancing their sense of identity, heritage, and the uniqueness of our local area.

Furthermore, our curriculum is designed to equip pupils with the geographical skills necessary for effective communication of their findings and understandings to various audiences.

Our high-quality teaching nurtures the following key traits in young geographers:

• Profound knowledge of global and British locales and their characteristics
• Deep understanding of the interconnectedness and interdependence of places
• A solid foundation of geographical knowledge and terminology
• Proficiency in conducting detailed geographical inquiries and applying critical questioning skills
• The capability to draw concise conclusions and articulate their discoveries
• Exceptional fieldwork and geographical techniques and skills
• The ability to formulate well-informed opinions on contemporary societal and environmental issues
• A genuine enthusiasm and curiosity about the world and its people.

Implementation:

Our teachers are equipped to design an invigorating curriculum that poses significant questions, sparking our pupils’ zeal for geography. This is supported by school membership to the Geographical Association and Hamilton Trust planning and resources. The planning framework includes:

• The development of a knowledge organiser detailing essential knowledge and vocabulary for mastery and application in lessons
• A structured series of lessons tailored to each subject, ensuring progression and depth with a focus on age-appropriate geographical skills
• Integration with other subjects to enrich learning experiences.
• Setting high expectations for all pupils, including challenge questions for applying learning in thoughtful and open-ended ways
• Organizing educational trips and inviting specialists to deepen learning experiences

Impact:

Our Geography Curriculum is of exceptional quality and is strategically planned to show progression. It will evidence:

• Pupils will explore outdoor learning spaces, both on school premises and in the local community
• Our pupils will emerge as confident geographers, able to articulate their learning from both past and current topics
• There will be evident skill progression from Key Stage 1 to 2, building upon previous knowledge, as showcased in their work
• Pupils will depart our school with a robust understanding of their local area and the geographical placement of countries and cities globally
• All pupils will be adept at discussing and recalling various global event
• Pupils will competently explain human and physical geography concepts and use maps and atlases (both physical and digital)
• Geography will be an integral part of our school culture, for instance, through initiatives like Eco Heroes, encouraging environmental responsibility.
• Ongoing professional development and support for teachers to ensure subject matter expertise.
• The use of endpoint assessments, pupil discussions and in class observations, support teachers to assess if pupils have met the expected standards for the planned unit of geography. Pupil outcomes are recorded on Arbor.
• Pupil discussions about their learning, demonstrating an understanding of key knowledge and interconnected links.