Geography

"A high quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Teaching should equip pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes. As pupils progress, their growing knowledge about the world should help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the framework and approaches that explain how the Earth's features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change overtime." Purpose of Study. The 2014 Primary National Curriculum in England.

Intent

At Mudeford Junior School we believe that geography helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world. We live in an interconnected world and geography helps to explain how we are connected. Our pupils are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, as well as their place in it. Geography is, by nature, an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. We seek to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people which will remain with them for the rest of their lives; to promote 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. Mudeford Junior’s curriculum is designed to develop knowledge and skills that are progressive, as well as transferable, for their time with us and also for their further education and beyond.

Our curriculum is designed to build on the children’s prior learning and to widen their knowledge of the world from their immediate surroundings and locality, to countries in Europe and in other continents. At Mudeford, geography is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children can achieve depth in their learning. The key knowledge and skills of each unit of study has been considered to ensure progression across topics throughout the school. Where beneficial for our learners, teachers will seek cross curricular learning opportunities.

The local area is utilised to provide opportunities for field work study. In year 3, the children visit Hengistbury Head, where they learn about Iron Age settlements, considering ‘why people chose to settle there’. This is an effective opportunity for history and geography learning to take concurrently. Our year 3 pupil’s study the local area. Throughout the topic they use fieldwork techniques to observe and record the human and physical features in Mudeford using a range of methods, including: sketch maps, plans, graphs, and digital technologies. They carry our surveys to help them develop a greater understanding of and connection with Mudeford. In year 6, the pupils visit a local river system and carry out a variety of field techniques to deepen their understanding of rivers before learning about 'Bournemouth - as a Victorian Town'.

The curriculum is designed to ensure that by the time the children leave Mudeford Junior School they have developed a lifelong love of geography, and are equipped with necessary geographical skills and knowledge to enable them to be ready for the curriculum at Key 3 and beyond.