In our school, the teaching of geography inspires in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world. Geography teaching at Fritwell focuses on enabling children to be ‘Geographers’. Our curriculum is planned to ensure a geographical 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. Depth of learning of geography skills and knowledge are taught creatively, linking to other curriculum areas as much as possible. Children are taught to develop geographical and fieldwork skills, such as reading maps and globes, and using compasses and digital technologies, in order to investigate places and patterns. Geographical knowledge is taught alongside the development of subject specific skills including; being able to collect, analyse and communicate data gathered through field work, being able to interpret a range of sources of geographical information and to communicate geographical information.
Geography is important in our school as through a topic-based approach, it provides a means of exploring, appreciating and understanding the world in which we live and how it has evolved. Through geographic enquiry and the application of geography skills, our pupils are given opportunities to develop an awareness of their immediate surroundings, other places and how people have used their environment. We want pupils to develop respect for other people different from themselves and the environment. As pupils study geography, they encounter different societies and cultures, which helps them realise how nations rely on each other. It can inspire them to think about their own place in the world, their values, and their rights and responsibilities to other people and the environment.
Our Geography curriculum gives pupils the understanding and the vocabulary to describe the world in which they live. They have a factual knowledge of location and are able to make comparisons and identify differences.