Geography

Hannah Ball Academy

Geography Curriculum Statement

Intent

At Hannah Ball Academy, our Geography curriculum is designed to inspire pupils’ curiosity and fascination about the world and its diverse peoples, equipping them with knowledge and skills that will stay with them for life. We aim to develop pupils’ understanding of the natural and human aspects of the world, fostering an awareness of the interconnectedness of places, people, resources, and environments at multiple scales.

Our curriculum ensures pupils develop substantive geographical knowledge—such as the location and characteristics of significant places and environments—and disciplinary knowledge, which includes understanding how geographical knowledge is constructed and applied through enquiry and investigation. This dual focus helps pupils deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes, and how these shape landscapes and environments over time.

Geography at Hannah Ball supports pupils’ spiritual, moral, social, and cultural development by encouraging them to think critically about global issues and their role as responsible citizens. Through progressively sequenced learning, pupils build a strong foundation of geographical knowledge and skills, preparing them for further education and lifelong learning.

Implementation

Geography is taught in thoughtfully planned blocks throughout the year, enabling pupils to immerse themselves fully in each topic. The curriculum is carefully mapped across key stages to ensure knowledge and skills build progressively and coherently, aligned with the National Curriculum’s subject content and attainment targets for Key Stages 1, 2, and 3.

At the start of each unit, pupils’ prior knowledge is assessed using the KWL strategy (What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Have Learnt), ensuring teaching is responsive to pupils’ starting points and interests, and promoting pupil voice.

Learning activities are designed to provide appropriate challenges for all pupils, fostering independence, resilience, and confidence in line with our inclusive ethos. Vocabulary mats and classroom displays support the development of subject-specific language and reinforce key knowledge visually.

Teachers use progressive questioning techniques to develop higher-order thinking skills, encouraging pupils to analyse, evaluate, and apply their geographical understanding critically. Fieldwork and practical enquiry are integral to the curriculum, enabling pupils to collect, analyse, and communicate geographical data using a range of methods, including maps, graphs, and digital technologies such as GIS.