Intent

At Rayleigh Primary School, we believe that the teaching of geography should inspire pupils to develop a life-long curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We teach pupils to appreciate the diversity evident in the world through learning about similarities, differences and how we live interdependently. We believe that geography is a key subject to engage pupils’ creative and critical thinking about change, both locally and globally, and the implications for their future. 

Geography education teaches pupils to understand `space’ and ‘scale’, for example, the layout of places within their own locality, their own country and the wider world and how this can be represented on maps.

We want our pupils to recognise and value interdependence and develop a passion for enhancing sustainability in the world around them through themes such as climate change, food, water and energy. 

We explore geography through many lenses such as: Physical Geography, Human Geography, Processes and changes and Locations and Environments and to go on to secondary school with a strong sense of geographical awareness and vocabulary to continue their learning.

Implementation
Our curriculum ensures that the teaching of geography equips pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with an understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Links are made within and across geography units to activate and build upon prior knowledge and promote deeper and wider conceptual understanding. Low-stakes quizzes help our children to secure and demonstrate their knowledge, while providing staff with useful assessment data which can, in turn, inform tailored next step planning for groups and individuals. Pupils experience hands-on geography and develop practical skills and understanding through e.g. map work and outdoor learning / visits. 

As pupils progress through the school, their growing knowledge about the world helps them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

Impact

By the time pupils leave Rayleigh Primary School they will:

Have an excellent knowledge of where places are and what they are like.
Have an excellent understanding of the ways in which human and physical environments are interrelated and interdependent.
Have a secure base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary.
Be fluent in geographical enquiry, the ability to apply questioning skills and use effective analytical and presentation techniques.
Have the ability to reach thoughtful conclusions and develop reasoned arguments to explain findings.
Have well-developed fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.
Have developed interest in - and a sense of curiosity to find out about - the world and the people who live there.
Have the ability to express well-balanced opinions, rooted in secure knowledge and understanding about current and contemporary issues in society and the environment.