At Swanwick Hall we aim to create the very best geographers. Our curriculum designed around the teaching of powerful geographical knowledge thereby ‘enabling students to acquire knowledge that takes them beyond their own experiences’ (Michael Young). Through their learning students develop a critical understanding of key geographical principles of the human and physical world, how the two interact and change over time. In an increasingly interconnected world, the study of geography is essential, enabling students to find their place and make a positive, sustainable impact to their world locally, nationally, and globally now and throughout their lives. This includes developing a critical understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by geographical concepts such as globalisation, development and climate change whilst also learning to use and apply the geographical skills necessary to become a competent geographer.
Learning cycles have been carefully planned to sequentially develop students’ geographical substantive and disciplinary knowledge, with frequent opportunities for knowledge recall and retrieval planned into lessons. Throughout KS3 students receive a broad foundation of knowledge, building on learning from KS2 and allowing successful transition to GCSE and A Level. However, subject content is chosen not simply to meet the needs of what is examinable through specifications but to give students the powerful knowledge and cultural capital to actively engage and contribute to the world around them.
