geography

At Harnham Junior School, our Geography curriculum is designed to give pupils a real sense of the world around them. Pupils explore both their local area of Salisbury and places further afield, helping them understand their place within our vast, ever-changing world. Through investigating local, national, and global locations, pupils learn about the Earth’s physical and human features, fostering an understanding of our world’s interdependence. This awareness helps pupils recognise their rights and responsibilities toward others and the environment.

We encourage all pupils to develop a passion for Geography as an exciting and diverse subject. Curiosity and enquiry skills are at the heart of our lessons, allowing pupils to ask and answer questions that deepen their geographical knowledge and expand their vocabulary.

Through high‑quality teaching, we develop the following characteristics in our Harnham geographers: They demonstrate a lively curiosity and pride in learning about the world and its diverse communities. They have secure locational knowledge and a clear understanding of the human and physical features of places — from our local area and across Great Britain to regions of the wider world. They understand how places are connected and interdependent. They use a broad geographical vocabulary, talk confidently about their ideas, and express their understanding through discussion. Where appropriate to the topic, they also show strong fieldwork skills.

At Harnham, we aim to ensure every child achieves their best in Geography. Our teachers bring Geography to life with real-world examples and hands-on learning experiences.  The curriculum is thoughtfully designed using the Kapow scheme to provide engaging, well-sequenced, and age-appropriate lessons that meet the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2. This curriculum ensures progression in both geographical knowledge and skills. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to build on prior knowledge, ensuring all pupils, including those with SEND, can access and make meaningful progress. This approach also supports our school's improvement priority of raising attainment across the curriculum by embedding key geographical concepts alongside literacy and vocabulary development. Pupils have access to high-quality geographical resources, allowing them to independently read and research our topics, broadening their understanding of the world.

Pupils’ geographical skills and knowledge are developed through locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography and geographical skills and fieldwork.

The impact we are aiming to achieve is to develop young geographers, who have a keen interest in the world around them and are inquisitive, curious and take pride in our surroundings. The impact of our Geography curriculum can be monitored through formative and summative assessment. Throughout each lesson, teachers observe pupils at work, individually, in pairs, in a group and in class during whole class teaching, to assess knowledge and understanding.  In addition, each unit has an assessment quiz which tracks pupil’s understanding and progression in line with our curriculum goals.  

By the time our pupils leave Harnham Junior School they will:  

• Have a good knowledge of where places are and what they are like.  

• Have an extensive base of geographical knowledge and vocabulary to support them in their further education.

• Have a passion for and commitment to the subject, and a real sense of curiosity to find out about the world and the people who live there.  

• Be empowered to overcome barriers and make meaningful contributions to discussions about geography and the world around them. 

• Be proud of their local area and the wider world and know ways in which they can help to protect and enjoy the environment around them.