“Studying geography is so important for children, regardless of their age or stage of learning. Geography helps them to make sense of the world around them and piques their curiosity in places and people.”

Iain Freeland HMI, Ofsted’s subject lead for geography

Intent - What we aim to achieve

Geography is an integral part of our curriculum. Our aim at St. Patrick's is to motivate and inspire children, equipping them with the skills they need in Geography for life. We want to instil our children with a lifelong curiosity and fascination about the world in which they live and help them to enjoy learning about different global communities and the relationships between these people and their landscapes. Through our curriculum, we want to equip children to be Global Citizens: to develop an awareness of the wider world and their place within it, encourage them to take an active role in the community and work with others to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable and fairer. We hope that our children will become passionate about the planet and actively involved in protecting the environment, this is reflected in the Catholic Social Teaching principles which we promote, of: Dignity, Creation and the Environment, Solidarity, The Dignity of Work and Participation, Peace, The Common Good  and Option for the Poor.

Our Geography curriculum is designed to deepen knowledge and develop key skills. We aim to ensure effective progression within each Geography unit and across all year groups. As our pupils progress through our school and increase their Geographical skills, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments. Our School Mission Statement is at the heart of our curriculum as we seek to ‘Serve, love, learn and inspire each other to excellence’ following the example of Jesus. 

Implementation - How do we achieve our aims?

In Geography, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum, incorporating the four main areas of learning at each key stage: Place Knowledge, Locational Knowledge, Human and Physical processes and Geographical skills and Fieldwork.

Our curriculum is carefully-planned and provides literacy-rich, cross-curricular opportunities, when possible, to ensure cohesion across the whole curriculum, whilst ensuring the four key elements of Geography are taught. At the beginning of each Geography unit, children share their prior knowledge, which helps to inform planning and teaching, maintaining high standards and expectations, with continuous progression. Teachers recap previous knowledge and build on what the children already know, helping to develop a deeper understanding of key skills as the children move through the school. Children start by asking themselves a key question, which by the end of the unit they can hopefully answer in their own way, demonstrating an understanding of what they have learned.

A series of stimulating high quality lessons are planned, with clear knowledge and skills-based learning objectives and subject-specific vocabulary. Activities are planned to demonstrate progress, knowledge and understanding, whilst adaptive teaching ensures that the curriculum can be accessed by all of our children, to challenge and engage them at appropriate levels. For example, in Reception, the children begin to look at, and use, maps, globes and Google maps to find different countries, this progresses to drawing and labelling their own maps of mini-beasts around the school as part of a field work activity, gathering data and looking at the results. Maps and the skills to use them are built upon throughout the years, eventually resulting in Y5 and 6 children being taught the importance of contour lines, six-figure grid references, OS symbols and the importance of latitude and longitude.

Teachers assess learning in Geography against knowledge and skills-based learning objectives within unit overviews, using a combination of summative and formative assessments that can include quizzes, open questions and discussions. Also, teachers recap knowledge throughout the topic, thus checking that knowledge isn't lost, helping it to remain fresh in pupil's minds.

Our curriculum is delivered through highly effective ‘quality first teaching’ using a range of schemes and resources.  Enrichment opportunities, including outdoor learning and competitions, provide our children with rich experiences and enhance teaching, learning and knowledge. The curriculum promotes children’s Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development, enabling them to become more reflective and responsible citizens, linked closely to our Catholic social teaching principles. This helps the children understand how not just people, but the planet should be treated with dignity and respect for the common good of all.

Impact - How do we know if we have achieved our aims?

Our carefully-planned Geography curriculum ensures that children are competent in the geographical skills needed to collect, analyse and communicate data, and to interpret a range of geographical sources, including maps, globes and aerial photographs. Children are able to communicate information in a variety of ways including maps, numerical skills and a range of literacy skills.

Through the breadth and depth that our Geography curriculum offers, our children are provided with a broad knowledge of the world they live in, and understand, as responsible citizens, how they need to care and preserve the planet for future generations.

We use a variety of different strategies to check that the children are developing their geographical skills by using quizzes, talking to the children about their experiences and of course by showcasing their talents through their written work.

“I’m really enjoying learning about the local area where we live!” Bella

" I really enjoyed learning about contour lines and making 3D models to show what they would look like" Charles.

"Geography is surprisingly fun!" Billy

Antarctic Flag Competition

This year, St. Patrick’s engaged in an exciting opportunity to enter a competition to send a flag to Antarctica with one of the research boats that will be doing fieldwork and experiments in the coming months over the winter.

62 years ago, on 1^st Dec. 1959 - 12 Nations signed the Antarctic Treaty, setting aside 10% of the Earth,

“ forever  to be used exclusively for peaceful

purposes in the interest of mankind.”

It was the first nuclear-arms agreement. Nuclear weapons cannot be used in Antarctica.

The first institution to govern all human activities in an international region with no sovereign jurisdiction. As a legacy to the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctica Treaty, OUR SPACES initiated Antarctica Day in 2010 and set up a project to raise awareness amongst young children about the precious and unique nature of Antarctica. Currently there are 30 countries around the World who operate seasonal and permanent work at the research stations on the Continent.

As a consequence, Antarctica has no official flag as it is not a nation nor is it ruled by a single government – hence the opportunity to design a flag!

We have a very talented group of children at school and it was lovely to see the varied and colourful designs that were entered. After deliberation and lots of staff helping, three winners were chosen.

We are very proud of the children and their designs were fantastic, however only one flag could be sent this design will join a research team in Antarctica, who will take a photograph of the flag whilst they are out on the ice and send school a certificate and the photograph to share some time in March.

Well done everyone who entered – we look forward to the competition next year!

Our Flag Made it!

Our school's flag has made it all the way to Antarctica! It really has been on quite the journey. 

It was taken to Antarctica by Doreen Thomson, a steward on board the RRS Sir David Attenborough. The photograph is taken at Adelaide Island. We are so proud of all those who participated this year and look forward to seeing whose flag will make it to Antarctica next year!