Geography at Willaston: Inspiring Global Thinkers

🌍 Intent

At Willaston, our Geography curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity, broaden geographical vocabulary, and cultivate a deep understanding of the world. We aim to nurture high aspirations by encouraging children to explore diverse places, cultures, and resources, fostering a lifelong love for the subject.

Through the study of both natural and human environments—and the processes that shape them—we strive to instil a sense of awe and wonder about the planet we inhabit. As pupils progress on their geographical journey, we support the development of critical skills that extend beyond the classroom and into their wider lives.

Our curriculum equips children with the subject-specific language needed to describe, question, and discuss the world around them. We empower pupils to recognise their voices and use them confidently to engage in meaningful debates on issues they care about, such as deforestation and climate change.

By enriching their cultural capital and expanding their experiences of the world, we aim to shape well-rounded individuals who are informed, articulate, and globally aware.

🌍 Implementation

Rooted in the National Curriculum and tailored to meet the unique needs of our pupils, our Geography progression map outlines clear objectives for each year group taking great care to take advantage of the rich geography in our local region, to build upon existing knowledge and understanding. Geography teaching alternates with History to ensure a rich and balanced humanities education throughout the academic year and where appropriate, we forge meaningful links between Geography and other subjects, such as History and Science, to deepen understanding and reinforce key concepts. Lesson are carefully differentiated both across and within year groups, ensuring content is age-appropriate while maintaining high expectations for all learners.

Children document their learning through a range of methods using maps, diagrams, graphs, posters and technology. Written tasks in Geography also provide valuable opportunities for pupils to consolidate and showcase their knowledge. To foster global awareness, maps are displayed and regularly referenced during lessons.

Our whole-school focus on oracy underpins a vocabulary-rich Geography curriculum. Teachers use targeted questioning and facilitate discussion and investigation to support vocabulary development, which is explicitly taught and modelled in every lesson. Core geographical knowledge—such as the names and locations of continents, countries, capital cities, and oceans—is revisited frequently to embed learning and enhance recall.

We enrich our curriculum with educational visits and visitors that inspire curiosity and broaden cultural horizons. Teachers also incorporate a wide range of resources—including videos, photographs, and newspaper articles—to create immersive and engaging learning experiences.

🌍 Impact

At Willaston, we evaluate the impact of our Geography curriculum through a rich variety of methods, ensuring a holistic understanding of each child’s progress and engagement. These include:

• Thoughtful questioning during lessons
• Assessment of written work
• Observation of child-led discussions
• Pupil interviews across year groups
• Termly electronic assessments
• Book scrutinies
• Capturing practical learning through photos and videos

By the end of their Geography journey at Willaston, our children will have a strong understanding of the world around them. Through a dynamic and engaging curriculum, pupils will:

• Possess a deepening understanding of the world and their place within it
• Use an expanded vocabulary of geographical terms with confidence
• Will be confident in essential geographical skills including map reading and locational knowledge
• Will develop a respect for the planet and understand how they can play a part in its future
• Will recognise the value of the local area and can compare their experiences to other areas of the globe
• Feel empowered to express their views and opinions clearly
• Consistently achieve outcomes above national expectations.
• Build resilience and perseverance through challenging and rewarding learning experiences
• Be inspired to explore the world further—through reading, travel, or media.