Geography

At Raglan, we provide a knowledge and language-rich approach to geography, developing our children’s understanding of the world - linking their lived experiences to the global picture. Children gain insights into both natural processes and human actions and their influences at different scales. 

Starting from our school grounds and the local community, children broaden their horizons to encompass Enfield, London, the UK and then the wider world. On their journey they will encounter a broad range of geographical contexts which have been carefully sequenced to build on previous knowledge. By the end of key stage 2, children will have gained skills such as interpreting maps and analysing data, undertaking their own geographical enquiries and solving problems concerning processes, scale, diversity and relationships. 

Raglan children will develop respect for the ever-changing environment and a sense of wonder about the precious and fragile nature of the world around them. The knowledge and skills they have acquired will help them make sense of their own place on an interconnected planet. Our children will be empowered global citizens, aware of their rights and responsibilities and motivated to make a difference locally and globally.

Units are introduced with a ‘big question’ which assesses children’s ability to apply geographical knowledge in different contexts. Formative assessment is used throughout a topic to reveal misconceptions and to make adaptations to future lessons. Topics build towards a synoptic task which assesses children’s ability to answer the big geographical question. 

All geography lessons start with retrieval practice. Children are challenged to recall learning from previous terms & years using a ‘points grid’, before they are assessed on the previous week’s learning using cloze procedure, matching & sequencing activities, deliberate vocabulary development and open-ended questioning (given key vocabulary).  

Children at Raglan are given opportunities to collect, present and analyse data within the school grounds and out and about on educational trips and residential visits. There is a clear focus on the geographical learning during fieldwork and children are encouraged to use metacognition to think about the learning process and evaluate ways in which their field work could be improved. The school grounds are used as a rich source of geographical knowledge empowering children to practise their skills of mapping, graphicacy, classifying, communication & collaboration, technology and orienteering. 

Children make their own maps demonstrating geographical knowledge, adding keys and compass points. Pupils are exposed to a variety of maps and aerial photographs throughout every geography unit. They gain fluency in the use of directional language, compass points, grid references, symbols, keys and to locate features. 

Geographical skills are integrated throughout geography lessons, helping children to interpret, create or communicate new geographical knowledge. Children are introduced to skills at age-appropriate times and practise them as an integral part of building their own geographical knowledge. For example in the year 3 Rivers unit, children use a range of photographs and maps of the River Indus to find out about how the river changes from source to sea. 

We have achieved the Primary Geography Quality Mark - gaining the gold standard from 2024 - 2027. 

• Nursery - Lee Valley Farm visit the school grounds, providing an introduction to agriculture. 

• Reception - The children experience a train journey to Enfield Town Library. 

• Year 1 - The children visit their local area and familiarise themselves with their surroundings. Also, a trip to Southend is planned to identify physical and human features as well as comparing the geographical features to the past. 

• Year 2 - The children visit their local park to carry out simple surveys of school and local areas. For example, weather and traffic. 

• Year 3 - The children visit the farm to focus on mapwork in an outdoor environment. Also, they go to Enfield Town to draw on prior knowledge and expand on human and physical features. 

• Year 4 - The children will attend The Hive which is a residential stay. As well as enriching them, it gives them lots of opportunities to learn how to orienteer and complete fieldwork in an exciting and innovative way.  

• Year 5 - The children will visit the Barbican conservatory to study tropical biomes. 

• Year 6 - The children will visit Bawdsey Manor to carry out a coastal study and practise their orienteering skills.

• As well as this, the children at Raglan utilise the school pond for further fieldwork activities, such as: changing the depth, measuring capacity and pond dipping!