At Holy Cross, our pupils are encouraged to be inquisitive about the people and places of our world. We aim for our pupils not only to be able to name and locate key locations in our world, but also to be able to make connections and comparisons. Our geography curriculum, based on the Plan Bee scheme of work and purposefully adapted to meet the needs of our pupils and surroundings, is carefully sequenced to ensure progressive knowledge and skill development. Each year group builds on prior learning, and topics are interlinked to create a cohesive understanding of geography.
As a Catholic school, we also feel it’s important that our pupils have opportunities to engage and motivate their sense of awe, wonder and curiosity about the world around them, through fieldwork and tactile learning. A key aspect of our geography will also be learning about the different cultures around the world, including human, physical and financial characteristics.
Linking closely to our Catholic Social Teaching, our pupils will develop an understanding and awareness of the wellbeing of people across the world, as well as how different cultures face different global issues. Our pupils will also gain an awareness of the everchanging world that we live in, and the ever-more relevant effects of climate change and our environmental choices.
Living on the Isle of Wight, we understand it is key that our pupils have the opportunity to explore our rich surroundings and the wealth of geographical resources on our door-step. Our pupils will also explore how their communities have been formed and shaped.
Where possible, our geography topics provide cross-curricular links with other subjects, such as the water cycle (science link), map reading, co-ordinates, graphs, scales, and measurements (maths link).
Our geography curriculum is designed with the following intentions:
- To provide our pupils with a thorough understanding of both human and physical geography, enabling them to explore the world around them. This includes knowledge of local, national, and global contexts.
- To equip our pupils with essential geographical skills, such as map reading, data interpretation, and critical thinking, which will enable them to analyse the world and make informed decisions about environmental and cultural issues.
- To promote an understanding of diverse cultures and communities, celebrating differences while fostering respect and empathy, preparing our pupils for life in a multicultural society.
- To instil a sense of stewardship and responsibility towards the environment through education about sustainability, climate change, and conservation, encouraging our pupils to become proactive global citizens.
- To inspire curiosity and a love for learning about geography through engagement in investigative projects, fieldwork, and real-world applications of geographical skills.