Page 24 - FSU Prospectus 2023 4

Geography
Geography is concerned with the study of places, the human and physical
processes which shape them and the people who live in them. It helps pupils
make sense of their surroundings and the wider world.

In Early Years at school the child is given opportunities to explore the
surroundings. Home and school are considered to be the starting points for
geographical enquiry. These are the places that the child knows best and can
most readily describe and explain.

Gradually the scope for development of geographical knowledge and skills
widens to include the local area, the streets that the child walks on the
journey to school, the local shops and friends’ homes.

As the child’s experiences and understanding widen and deepen so the scope
for study extends. The child’s awareness of how places fit into the wider
geographical context is raised. Other localities in the UK, Europe and the
wider world are studied.

At each stage the child is given opportunities to observe, ask questions,
collect, record and analyse evidence, draw conclusions and communicate
findings.

History
When teaching history we aim to fire the children’s imagination about the
past in Britain and the wider world. Stressing the importance of how the
past influences the present, we teach children about past societies,
developing their sense of chronology and understanding of significant events
and people. We also emphasise the importance of British values: -
Democracy, The rule of law, Individual liberty and Respect & tolerance and
teach children their relevance to everyday life. During historical study,
children are encouraged to find evidence, evaluate it and draw their own
conclusions. History gives children an opportunity to research, sift through
evidence and argue a point of view – skills that are needed in all walks of life.
This is achieved through a wide variety of experiences including visits,
workshops and study through artifacts, looking at both primary and
secondary evidence.

Music
In class lessons children enjoy a variety of creative music making, from
singing, to composing their own music and listening to music from around the

Blanford Mere Primary School – Prospectus 2024 - 25 Updated 17.7.2024 23