Geography at Burnt Oak Junior School

At Burnt Oak Junior School, our main aim is to ignite curiosity and enthusiasm about the world—its origins, development, and the significant impact of human actions on its future. Closely aligned with the expectations of the National Curriculum for Geography, we are committed to helping pupils develop a thorough understanding of the world around them. We seek to instil an appreciation for the important lessons that can be learned from past geographical events and human activities, which have shaped the world we live in today.

To support this aim, we provide pupils with a wide range of opportunities to engage with geography. These include the use of primary and secondary sources, exciting educational visits, and talks from guest speakers, all of which are thoughtfully incorporated into our Pioneer Passport programme. Geography is meaningfully embedded within our IPC (International Primary Curriculum) topics, and we make use of our local area to enhance the spirit of exploration. Pupils not only learn key geographical concepts but are also encouraged to communicate their knowledge using subject-specific vocabulary, maps, and developing their fieldwork skills. We promote cross-curricular links to deepen and broaden pupils’ learning experiences.

“A high-quality geography education should inspire in pupils a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.”
— National Curriculum, 2014

The IPC and Geography

We use the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) to teach geography, allowing pupils to explore places and events with confidence and clarity. Through the IPC, children learn to:

• Collect, analyse, and communicate data gathered from fieldwork experiences

• Interpret a variety of geographical sources, including maps, diagrams, and globes

• Present geographical information in a range of formats

The IPC complements the National Curriculum, ensuring that statutory requirements are met in creative and engaging ways.

Our Geography Curriculum Aims to Help Pupils:

• Gather information from a variety of sources (books, videos, the internet, drama, role play, visiting speakers, and educational trips)

• Use and interpret maps and atlases of both the local area and the wider world

• Understand and sequence events, people, and changes in chronological order

• Describe and explain causes and effects of geographical events

• Explore the causes and impacts of natural disasters

• Understand both the positive and negative effects of human activity on the environment

Our curriculum builds progressively across Key Stages, allowing pupils to build on prior knowledge and deepen their understanding over time.

IPC Personal Goals

At Burnt Oak Junior School, we focus on eight IPC Personal Goals that support the development of the whole child:

• • Adaptable

  • Communicator

  • Collaborator

  • Empathetic 

  • Ethical

  • Resilient

  • Respectful

  • Thinker

These goals are woven into daily learning and help pupils develop a broad range of skills. Through geography and the IPC, children are encouraged to view the world from multiple perspectives, approach unfamiliar situations with confidence, offer creative ideas, and adapt to a variety of challenges.

By following the IPC, we are able to approach geography in a dynamic and engaging way while ensuring full coverage of National Curriculum objectives. As an international programme, the IPC also helps us to celebrate diversity and promote global understanding in our teaching.