Geography

At our school, Geography helps children make sense of the world - locally, nationally and globally. We want pupils to become curious, knowledgeable and thoughtful geographers who can ask questions, investigate places and understand how people and environments are connected. Through engaging lessons, children develop a secure understanding of location, place, human and physical geography, and the skills to interpret information and communicate findings confidently.

Our approach

We teach Geography through a carefully planned, progressive curriculum that builds knowledge and skills year by year. Lessons are designed to help pupils:

• Develop locational knowledge (where places are and what they are like)
• Build place knowledge by comparing different regions and understanding similarities and differences
• Understand human and physical geography, including how landscapes form and how people shape environments
• Use geographical skills such as map reading, fieldwork, collecting data, using atlases and interpreting graphs and images
• Ask and answer geographical questions, using evidence to explain patterns, change and connections

Kapow Primary: our chosen scheme

To ensure clear progression and consistent coverage across the school, we follow Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme of work. This supports teachers with well-sequenced units that develop both substantive knowledge (what children learn about the world) and disciplinary knowledge (how geographers think and work). The scheme helps us provide:

• A coherent sequence of learning
• Strong vocabulary development, enabling pupils to describe and explain geographical concepts accurately
• Meaningful enquiry-led lessons that encourage investigation, reasoning and reflection
• Regular opportunities to use maps, data and fieldwork to bring learning to life

How children learn in Geography

Geography learning is active and investigative. Children are encouraged to explore real places and ask questions such as Why is this place like this? and How is it changing? Learning often includes:

• Map and atlas work (including symbols, keys, scale and direction)
• Case studies of contrasting locations and environments
• Data handling (charts, climate graphs, population information and simple mapping where appropriate)
• Fieldwork and local studies, helping children connect classroom learning with the world around them
• Discussion and explanation, using geographical vocabulary to justify ideas and conclusions

Inclusion, curiosity and responsible citizenship

We want every child to feel confident in Geography. Lessons are planned to be inclusive and accessible, with clear modelling, scaffolds and opportunities for deeper challenge. Geography also supports children in becoming responsible citizens, encouraging them to think carefully about issues such as sustainability, climate, resources and how communities can protect environments for the future.