‘Knowledge of the world and our place in it.’

At William Gilbert Primary School, our intent is to provide pupils with a deep understanding of place, space and the environment.  Teaching geography ensures every pupil has a better understanding of our human and physical world. The knowledge, skills and values developed in geography can be used to make a positive contribution to the world through social and environmental action. We aim to provide real and enhanced experiences, to ensure every pupil develops a love for the subject and reaches their full potential.

Geography provides an understanding of ‘the world’s discipline’. It helps to give order and meaning to a diverse and complex world. We aim to build a progressive curriculum through careful planning, in order to provide inspiring, inviting and stimulating lessons that build upon previous learning.

At William Gilbert, we promote pupils’ SMSC development through geography in the following ways:

Spiritually – We promote a sense of wonder and fascination with the physical and human world. Geography enables pupils to reflect on their own beliefs and experiences as they encounter different societies and cultures in their learning. We aim to captivate pupils by giving them opportunities to discover their place in a unique, diverse and wonderful world.

Morally – We equip pupils with the knowledge, skills and values to become critical thinkers, in order to make informed decisions on local, state and national issues as future citizens. Pupils develop a sense of accountability and responsibility as custodians of the world.

Culturally – We present a curriculum that involves the study of real people in real places. Pupils gain a deeper understanding of human life and an appreciation of diverse cultural traditions and places. This allows pupils to develop a sense of humility and empathy with others.

Socially – We use geography to broaden pupils’ horizons by developing a sense of their place in the world. We aim to inspire pupils’ curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

Our geography curriculum encompasses the aims of the National Curriculum to ensure all pupils:

• Develop contextual knowledge of the location of globally significant places – both terrestrial and marine – including their defining physical and human characteristics and how these provide a geographical context for understanding the actions of processes.
• Understand the processes that give rise to key physical and human geographical features of the world, how these are interdependent and how they bring about spatial variation and change over time.
• Are competent in the geographical skills needed to:
• Collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes.
• Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
• Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length.

It is our hope that all William Gilbert pupils will use their geographical skills to participate fully in, and make a positive contribution to life in our society.