Geography

Our aim at Dunston Hill Primary School is to inspire children’s curiosity, interest and appreciation for the world that we live in, by creating a curriculum that generates excitement and provides opportunities for children to develop their resilience by being challenged and motivated to learn.  

Through a carefully designed curriculum that dovetails with our History studies, children will acquire the geographical skills to develop their knowledge through studying places, people and natural and human environments. As pupils progress through the school, they will develop an insight into the links between physical and human processes and how landscapes and environments have changed and continue to change. 

Children will be exposed to an exciting sequence of learning that is designed to revisit skills and knowledge in order to ensure that they embed their learning. Through this, they will be inspired to be motivated learners, with an ability to articulate their learning with pride and interest.   

Our curriculum has been designed to ensure that not only are the aims of the National Curriculum met, but that lessons are planned to create an exciting learning environment, through the use of a wide range of resources both in the classroom and outdoors in our school grounds and the local area. Progression has been carefully considered, enabling children of all abilities to find success by the development of accessible learning so that they are able to take risks and use a problem-solving approach. Every lesson has an ‘enquiry focus’ so that children are challenged to consider the deeper impacts of their area of study, creating an empathetic and enriching learning environment. There is a strong focus on perseverance towards reaching a well-considered conclusion so that children can use their developing skills to set themselves ambitious goals for their future learning.   

Teachers understand the key knowledge, skills and progression throughout each year group across the school, with an insight into the full learning journey from Early Years through to Year 6.  By creating a buzz for learning, children will have a wide range of opportunities to investigate and report their findings by collecting, analysing and communicating in a variety of ways.  

High quality and well-planned lessons encourage progression through a clear achievement pathway. Carefully considered geographical questioning helps pupils to gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of the world and its people. Children learn key geographical vocabulary that will be built upon year on year, to develop a strong foundation for learning and provide security in their knowledge and develop resilience to be the best that they can be.   

The curriculum is regularly reviewed and teachers are cognisant of the need to be flexible and to follow children’s interests. This is done by carefully tweaking activities within the learning environment to create an enriching and engaging experience which maintains children’s love of learning.  

Pupil voice is an essential component within our curriculum design and children are regularly asked to share their learning and feelings about their studies, which helps us to further improve our offering.  Achievement towards intended outcomes is closely monitored by effective marking and feedback which gives children the best chance of success. Staff receive appropriate guidance and direction to keep their subject knowledge up to date and the subject leader benefits from the sharing of good practice within a wider cohort of schools, which can then be implemented to deliver maximum impact across our school.