“Think like a Geographer!”

‘You can travel the seas, poles and deserts and see nothing. To really understand the world, you need to get under the skin of the people and places. In other words, learn about geography. I can’t imagine a subject more relevant in schools. We’d all be lost without it.’  Michael Palin.

At St Hedda’s, we want our children to see themselves as geographers and to love the study of geography. We want them to have no limits to what their ambitions are and grow up wanting to be ecologists, town planners, conservationists or environmental scientists! We want our children to have a sense of place in the world that surrounds them and understand how things like landscape and environmental change affect their own lives, and the global community.  Our ambitious curriculum is structured cumulatively; revisiting knowledge through a sequential and enriching journey that begins in EYFS.

Children at St Hedda’s are encouraged to ‘think like geographers’ by looking at the world through four coherently planned main strands: 

• Locational Knowledge
• Place Knowledge 
• Human and Physical Geography 
• Geographical Skills and Fieldwork

At St Hedda’s geography draws from other areas of the curriculum to create connections in understanding.

Our intent is to deliver a curriculum that inspires in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them beyond their time at St Hedda’s. Our geography offering will 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. 

At St Hedda’s we employ an agile approach to the curriculum and adapt in order for pupils to see themselves within the curriculum; with field studies and visits encompassing locations in and around Egton Bridge, and locations that are significant to groups of learners. Through framing learning through places that are familiar, we are able to contextualise our learning and prepare our children for life in modern Britain.

History at St Hedda’s is taught to each mixed age class through rolling programmes, which  enable pupils to study in depth key geographical understanding, skills and vocabulary. Each module aims to activate and build upon prior learning, from EYFS to Year 6,  to ensure better retention of knowledge.  Each module is carefully sequenced to enable pupils to purposefully layer learning from previous sessions to facilitate the acquisition and retention of key geographical knowledge. As the children move through the rolling programmes, they are introduced to new Key Concepts that are revisited throughout their time at school.

There are two key aspects to learning

Substantive knowledge – this is the subject knowledge and vocabulary used about the world.

Disciplinary knowledge – – this is the use of knowledge and how children become a little more expert as a geographer by Thinking Geographically. Children will develop their knowledge of Place, Space, Scale, and Interdependence.

At St Hedda’s, Geography is taught across each year group in modules that enable pupils to study in depth key geographical understanding, skills and vocabulary. Each module aims to activate and build upon prior learning, from EYFS to Year 6, to ensure better cognition and retention. Each module is carefully sequenced to enable pupils to purposefully layer learning from previous sessions to facilitate the acquisition and retention of Key Strands (Locational Knowledge, Place Knowledge, Human and Physical geography,and finally, Geographical Skills and Fieldwork) and geographical knowledge. Each module is revisited as part of a spaced retrieval practice method to ensure pupils retain key knowledge and information. 

The impact of our ambitious geography approach:

• Children are equipped with geographical skills and knowledge that will enable them to be ready for the next key stage and for their future.
• Children can articulate their learning and have a deep knowledge of the world they live in and how they can make a positive impact as global changemakers.
• Children can access and follow our ambitious curriculum that shares our vision for exceptionally high expectations.
• A curriculum that gives our children understanding of space, place, environment, and culture throughout.

Enrichment

Through enrichment opportunities children have first hand experiences to help gain an understanding an understanding of the world around them. 

• The opportunity to carry out field studies- geography surrounds us and we believe experiencing it has as much value as learning about it.
• A chance to explore what is on our doorstep. St Hedda’s is located in a geographically rich area.
• Provide the children time to learn and explore through forest school sessions.
• The opportunity to bring geography to life through enrichment visits to sites of geographical interest and engaging with experts.

Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum supports children’s understanding of geography, people and communities through the planning and teaching of ‘Understanding the World’.

Children learn about features of their own environment such as school, home, the beach, the moors, the Esk, their villages and Whitby through first hand experiences and learn how environments may differ through the sharing of books, stories, poems, small world play, role play and visits. Children enjoy the valuable experiences gained from our regular trips to places within their local community such as the library, park and local shops as well as joining in with the parish and trust celebrations visiting other schools in contrasting locations. Children are given time to discuss, comment and ask questions about what they observe about the world around them and are encouraged to be active learners and explore their interests further.