GLF Schools

GLF Schools

GLF Schools was founded in 2012 in order to enable the federation of Glyn School (an academy in 2011) and Danetree Junior School. Together, we began our journey to become a MAT of more than 1000 talented staff working with over 10,000 children in 40 schools across 5 regions in southern England.

Our Schools

Banbury Region

Banstead Region

Berkshire & Hampshire Region

Caterham Region

Crawley Region

Didcot Region

Epsom Region

London Boroughs

Redhill Region

Sunbury & Camberley Region

Intent

Geography is essentially about understanding the world we live in. It helps to provoke and provide answers to questions about the natural and human aspects of the world.

At Hammond Junior School, we want our children to love Geography. Children are encouraged to develop a greater understanding and knowledge of the world, how it has developed as well as their place in it.

Geography is an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills.

Our vision is to inspire in children a curiosity and fascination about the world and people within it; to promote the children's interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth's key physical and human processes.

We also intend for children to become passionate and knowledgeable about our local community and beyond, by learning through experiences in practical and fieldwork activities.

“I like learning geography because I love the environment and animals! My favourite lesson was when we made a spreadsheet about climate change. In geography we learn about the earth, animals and climate change.” Year 6 pupil

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Implementation

At Hammond Junior School, Geography is taught for half a term every term for one hour per week. Our geography curriculum is in line with 2014 Primary National Curriculum requirements. It is supported by a clear skills and knowledge progression to ensure these are built on year by year and sequenced appropriately to maximise learning for all children.

Lesson content and tasks are designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with our commitment to inclusion. 

It is important that children develop the skills of a geographer by fully immersing them in all areas of the subject. The local area is fully utilised to achieve desired outcomes, with opportunities for learning outside the classroom.

Location knowledge, fieldwork and map work are woven throughout the Geography topics.  Effective use of educational visits and fieldwork are planned, to enrich and enhance the pupil’s learning experiences within the Geography curriculum.  Fieldwork opportunities are greatly amplified through our local area units where children go out into the country park to conduct observations, surveys, investigations and field sketches.  The use of maps and compasses enhances this experience.  

At the start of each unit children are given a knowledge organiser which details some key information, questions and vocabulary. This is not used as part of an assessment, but to support children with their acquisition of knowledge and are used as a reference document. 

In geography lessons, children are given clear success criteria in order to achieve the Learning Intention with different elements of independence.  Effective modelling by teachers ensures that children  are able to achieve their learning intention, with misconceptions addressed within it.  Through using a range of assessment tools, differentiation is facilitated by teachers, to ensure that each pupil can access the Geography curriculum.

“I think geography is very interesting because we get to do lots of fun things and learn about lots of mountain ranges around the world.” Year 5 pupil

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Impact

At Hammond Junior School we believe that by delivering a high-quality geography curriculum we will inspire and equip the next generation of Geographers to have no limits to what their ambitions are. We want them to grow up wanting to be cartographers, town planners, conservationists or weather forecasters.

Hammond Junior School believes that by the time pupils leave school they will:

  • have an excellent understanding of how to use maps and atlases to strengthen their understanding of the world.

  • describe where some places are using geographical knowledge and vocabulary.

  • have an excellent understanding of the ways in which places are similar or different.

  • give reasons for different climates in relation to their position in the world.

  • have developed their fieldwork and other geographical skills and techniques.

  • 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.

“I like geography because we got to decorate our classroom with fish, paper snowflakes, paper chains and tissue paper. We also got to look at maps.” Year 3 pupil

Knowledge Organisers

Year 3

Year 3 Who lives in Antarctica?

Year 3 Why do people live near volcanoes?

Year 4

Year 4 Where does our food come from?

Year 4 Why are rainforests important to us?

Year 5

Year 5 Why do oceans matter?

Year 5 What is life like in the Alps?

Year 6

Year 6 Where does our energy come from?

Year 6 Why does population change

Progression Document

Geography Progression Document