Geography
“Geography is the subject that holds the key to our future”
(Michael Palin)
At Holme Grange School it is the intention that all pupils should know where they are in the world and where they are at Holme Grange in relation to Britain and to the surrounding settlements, including London and around the globe.
The Geography syllabus at Holme Grange is designed to encourage the development of a wide range of skills. With teaching from class teachers in Pre-Prep and Year 3 and by specialists thereafter, children are encouraged to enquire and investigate, communicate their findings and develop skills in predicting outcomes. Pupils undertake fieldwork in preparation for their Common Entrance papers in Year 8 and are given a choice between a study suggested by the School or one of their own choosing. They then have to use skills developed in other curriculum areas such as Science, Mathematics and ICT, as well as learning important lessons about producing longer pieces of work requiring self motivation, organisation and planning.
The Department aims to encourage all children to:
• Explore the relationship between the Earth and its peoples, through the study of PLACE, SPACE and
ENVIRONMENT.
• Seek to develop a SENSE OF PLACE.
• Describe the location of PLACES.
• Study the processes that create or alter PLACES.
• Develop an awareness of SPACE and SPATIAL PATTERNS.
• Study the ENVIRONMENT, its resources and use or misuse.
• Explore the relationships between people, physical features, human activities and environmental
resources in the world.
• Ask the question: WHERE? WHAT? WHY? HOW? and HOW MIGHT?
It is these questions that enable children to conduct Geographical enquiries in a variety of ways throughout a variety of topic areas; including, rivers and coasts, weather, mountains, geology, globalisation and differing locations; teaching the skills of analysis, synthesis, data collection, representation and interpretation that are vital in understanding the modern world.
Geography is everywhere and we are an integral part of it. We ignore this dynamic challenging subject at our peril.
