Geography at Parkfields is so much more than just geography. Ex-President Barack Obama summed it up in his 2012 quote, “The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.” 

At Parkfields, we want pupils to be fascinated with, and knowledgeable about their world. We want them to understand both their place within it as well as their responsibility towards it. Our curriculum aims to inspire our pupils by introducing them to the amazing physical and human features of our world but to also help them understand the fragility of their world and the issues many people face. 

Geography is not just about reading maps and locating countries in the world. These skills are taught and developed throughout each year, but we also aim to link Geography with Science, English, Maths and PSHE to give the children an understanding of the link between our world and their place in it. 

Children are given key questions such as; ‘Should a visitors’ centre be developed in the Lake District and, ‘Is there a link between wealth and life expectancy across the world?’ We look at live statistics across the world so that there is an appreciation of our lives in a higher income country.

Data is collected and analysed and different geographical processes are learnt such as deforestation, climate change, the hydrological cycle and glaciation. Controversial issues are debated such as whether development should happen in the Amazon Rainforest so that children have an understanding of the causes and impacts of development. 

We use Digimaps for Schools to develop an understanding of Geographic Information Systems and become global virtual travellers. This system is also used in the Crime topic within which children look at the geography of crime and how geography is used to solve crimes.

In Year 7, children are given the opportunity to go to Calshot Activity Centre in Southampton to develop their fieldwork skills and experience ‘real geography’. With specialists, children investigate coastal erosion, the journey of a river from source to mouth and complete an orienteering course. There is also a key link to marine biology as children complete a Seine Netting activity and a beach comb. 

Photo by GeoJango Maps on Unsplash