Continuity and progression

Increasing attention is being given to strategies for promoting greater continuity and progression in pupils' educational experience. Where continuity and progression are strong, pupils do not lose momentum in their learning and they build on previous experience and existing knowledge, skills and understanding in a systematic way.

The idea of continuity suggests there are certain features that appear consistently throughout pupils' geographical education. The following elements of geography may support continuity:

• the emphasis on the study of places
• the attention given to location, spatial patterns and the links between places
• the concern with physical geography and human geography, and with the relationship between people and their environments
• the use of maps
• the investigation of places and themes.

Progression focuses on how pupils learn through geography. Curriculum planning, in particular how geographical content is structured and the sequencing of learning activities, has an important influence on how pupils progress in their learning. It has been suggested that progression in learning in geography should involve:

• an increase in the breadth of studies
• an increasing depth of study associated with pupils' growing capacity to deal with complexities and abstractions
• an increase in the spatial scale of what is studied
• a continuing development of skills to include specific techniques and more general strategies of enquiry, matched to pupils' developing cognitive abilities
• increasing opportunity for pupils to examine social, economic, political and environmental issues.

Progression in pupils' geographical understanding is strongly influenced by the development of their ability to describe and explain geographical conditions, patterns, relationships and changes.

Cross-phase and cross-stage liaison with other schools helps to ensure greater continuity and progression in pupils' learning in geography as they move through their education.

This section provides ideas for teachers on ways of enhancing continuity and progression in geography, both within and between key stages and phases.

For examples of continuity and progression in geography choose fron the menu.

Examples of ideas for enhancing continuity and progression in geography are currently being collected. If you have a good example, submit it for possible inclusion.