Dunn Street Primary School

Geography Curriculum

Intent 

At our small primary school in Jarrow, our curriculum is shaped by our strong community identity, our commitment to every child, and our unique location beside the River Tyne.

 

Our intent is to provide a broad, balanced, and ambitious curriculum that nurtures curiosity, creativity, independence and confidence.

A key feature of our curriculum is our commitment to local studies, drawing on the unique geography, history, and culture of Jarrow and the River Tyne. From understanding the river’s role in shaping local industry and communities. We use our local area as a living classroom that inspires meaningful and memorable learning experiences.

We aim to ensure that all pupils:

  • develop a strong sense of identity and belonging, understanding how Jarrow’s past and present contribute to who they are;
  • acquire secure knowledge and progressive skills across all subjects, enabling them to be confident learners ready for the next stage of their education;
  • build resilience, empathy, and respect, reflecting the values of our school and community;
  • become responsible citizens who appreciate their environment and recognise the importance of caring for the River Tyne and the wider world.
  • builds aspirations and confidence by engaging with enrichment opportunities, educational visits, visitors and community partnerships across Jarrow and the wider region.

Through high expectations, inclusive practice and purposeful enrichment, our curriculum ensures that every child is known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential. We strive to nurture a love of learning that lasts a lifetime and empowers our pupils to make a positive difference both locally and beyond.

Implementation

 

Geography is organised into clear long-term and medium-term plans which set out the progression of knowledge, skills and vocabulary from Early Years to Year 6.

Teachers adapt lessons to meet the needs of all learners, ensuring inclusivity and high expectations for every child.

Cross-curricular opportunities are used deliberately to strengthen understanding and make learning meaningful, especially through local studies linked to the River Tyne.

Lessons are adapted responsively to meet the needs of all learners, including SEND, EAL and disadvantaged pupils, ensuring equity and challenge for every child.

We place strong emphasis on vocabulary development and oracy to deepen understanding

These experiences help pupils connect classroom knowledge to the real world, building pride, identity and environmental responsibility.

 Impact

We measure our curriculum’s success through pupils’ growing knowledge, skills and confidence; their enthusiasm for learning; and their ability to talk meaningfully about their community, the wider world and their place within it.

Assessment in geography is ongoing and purposeful. Teachers use questioning, discussion, book looks and observation to evaluate how well pupils understand key concepts such as place, space, environment and scale. Regular low-stakes retrieval tasks help pupils build secure, long-term knowledge, while end-of-unit tasks give them opportunities to apply what they have learned.

By the time pupil leave Dunn Street, they will:

  • pupils develop a strong sense of pride and identity, confidently discussing Jarrow, the River Tyne and how local geography shapes everyday life;
  • children use accurate geographical vocabulary and can make connections between physical and human features, both locally and globally;
  • pupils demonstrate curiosity about the world, ask thoughtful questions and show increasing independence in fieldwork and map-based tasks;
  • all learners, including SEND and disadvantaged pupils, show clear progression over time and are able to recall and apply key knowledge;
  • children understand their responsibility to care for their environment, showing respect for local spaces and an awareness of sustainability issues.

By the time children leave our school, they are well-prepared for the next stage of their education. They have the knowledge, confidence and curiosity to explore new places and ideas, and they recognise their role as informed, responsible citizens who can make a positive difference in Jarrow, along the River Tyne and in the wider world.

 

geography curriculum overview cycle a b 1 .pdf

 

 

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