Progress in Geography

There is more and more emphasis on children understanding how to get better in geography.  This is a strategy being trialed at Wilnecote High School, near Tamworth.  These steps are based on the national curriculum and GCSE levels.  Pupils must be able to justify with examples in order to colour in the boxes.  Teachers use it to set subject specific targets. 

This is the statement used with pupils at the beginning of each year of KS3.

Making progress in Geography

• Understand how to do geographical enquiries.
• Practice map, graph photograph and fieldwork skills.
• Gain a knowledge and understanding of places, local to global.
• Gain a knowledge and understanding of issues and changes in the local area and the wider world.

• Before you start the work think how it could help you take the next step!
• When your work has been marked look at the teacher comments to see where you need to improve.
• Colour in the boxes to show the step you have reached and write in the space which piece of work shows you have reached the step.
• Remember the sequence of enquiry is >Effect>Cause>Multiple cause> Solutions>Management.

Francine Wilson Jones, Wilnecote High School

Download 'Progress in Geography'

Download Progress in Geography version 2

Download a variation from Anthony Cheetham from Highfields School, Wolverhampton

KS3 Pupil progress chart

GCSE learning skills progression

Click the right mouse on the link and choose Save Target as or Save Link as' . 

Fiona Osmaston, Head of Geography Tamarside Community College, Plymouth writes

My dept is going to ask students to think about the levels they are working at by shading in the appropriate statement on the attached sheet. Students have to estimate what level they are working at and this will be compared with teacher assessments. Hopefully we will give students a greater understanding of what NC levels mean and how to improve. Students also have to reflect back on what they have done to find evidence to substantiate their levels and to have this agreed by the teacher. I have tried it with a top, middle and bottom set and it seemed to work. 

Key Stage 3 Review Name.doc

To improve your work you need to.doc

Alec Jiggins, Head of Geography Eggar's School, Alton, Hampshire has offered another approach.

The Humanities Faculty at Eggar's has been introducing the KS3 Foundation Subject Strategy to the whole school this year. One of the ideas we have come up with in Geography is the Passport to Success, which contains pupil-friendly level descriptors. The passport is stuck in the pupil's book and as they attain an element of a level, we sign it off.

I have designed a step-ladder display for the classroom as well, which is based in some part on the work of Francine that I found on the SLN geography site. This is regularly referred to by pupils to set targets.

Eggar's Geography Passport

If you use it please send me an email kate.russell@staffordshire.gov.uk and if you adapt it then send me the updated version please.

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to kate.russell@staffordshire.gov.uk
Copyright © 2007 [QLS Staffordshire County Council]

This page last updated 06 April 2006