Geography At Our School
At our school, we are passionate about developing curious, knowledgeable geographers who have a broad understanding of the world and the investigative skills needed to find out more. We aim to inspire children through engaging, practical geographical studies that deepen their understanding of places, people and environments.
Our Geography curriculum is carefully designed to ensure children build secure locational knowledge, understand a wide range of human and physical features, and develop strong fieldwork and enquiry skills. Learning is structured so that children revisit and build upon prior knowledge each year, applying what they have learned to new and exciting locations across the world. This clear progression ensures full coverage of the National Curriculum objectives.
Mapping and Fieldwork
Mapping skills are embedded throughout our Geography curriculum. Children learn to interpret, create and use a range of maps, including digital mapping tools, which are used across the school. These skills develop progressively from simple maps and symbols in the early years to confident use of keys, scales and different viewpoints by the time children leave Year 6. Fieldwork is a vital part of our curriculum and provides opportunities for children to observe, measure, record and present geographical information first-hand.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Geography learning begins in Reception as part of Understanding the World. Children explore geographical concepts through play, role play and exploration. They take part in seasonal walks around the school environment, helping them understand growth, change and their immediate surroundings. Geography-specific language is introduced naturally as children describe journeys, places and features within familiar settings.
Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2)
In Key Stage 1, children develop a strong sense of their local environment before broadening their understanding to include the United Kingdom, Europe, the world’s continents and oceans. They learn to identify and describe human and physical features and begin to understand how these interact. Children compare places, noticing similarities and differences, and use simple maps and fieldwork to support their learning.
Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3 and 4)
During Years 3 and 4, children deepen their geographical knowledge through topic-led enquiries covering a range of locations and features across the globe. They learn key geographical vocabulary and study rivers, mountains, volcanoes and climates, often linking learning with science. Year 3 river studies allow children to observe each stage of a river and develop their fieldwork skills. Children also explore how people live in different parts of the world, appreciating similarities, differences and cultural diversity. Data collection and presentation skills are developed, supporting mathematical learning.
Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6)
In Years 5 and 6, children further extend their understanding of the world, its people and the interconnections between them. Topics include fair trade, global issues and environmental responsibility. Children use their knowledge of Ancient Greece to compare with modern-day Greece, strengthening their understanding of change over time. Mapping skills are refined, with confident use of keys, scales and digital mapping. Fieldwork enquiries, such as rainforest climate studies, build on earlier data-handling skills.
A Global Perspective
Throughout the school, each class studies a country from a different continent in detail, ensuring children develop a broad and balanced global perspective. Geography plays an important role in developing our school values, encouraging respect, empathy and responsibility. Children leave our school with a strong understanding of the world and the importance of protecting it for future generations.
Our commitment to high-quality Geography teaching has been recognised by The Geography Association, who awarded our school the Primary Geography Quality Mark – Silver Award in 2020.
