Intent

At St. Stephen's C of E Primary School, we follow the National Curriculum through the Kapow Primary Geography scheme. Our curriculum is designed to develop pupils' curiosity about the world while equipping them with the knowledge and skills to understand both natural and human environments. Through geography, pupils explore their local area, the United Kingdom and the wider world, developing an appreciation of the diverse people, places and environments that make our planet unique.

Learning builds progressively from Reception to Year 6 through three key strands:

• Locational and Place Knowledge – developing an understanding of countries, continents, oceans and significant places, both locally and globally

• Human and Physical Geography – exploring how physical processes shape the Earth and how people interact with and influence their environments

• Geographical Skills and Fieldwork – developing practical skills through mapping, data collection, observation and enquiry

• Environmental Responsibility – encouraging pupils to think critically about global issues and recognise their role in caring for God's world

Implementation

Our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills develop progressively across each year group.

Pupils build their understanding of key geographical concepts, including location, place, physical and human processes, environmental change and sustainability. They develop practical geographical skills by interpreting maps, atlases, aerial photographs and digital mapping tools, alongside collecting and analysing data through fieldwork.

In the Early Years and Key Stage 1, children begin by exploring their immediate environment, creating simple maps, investigating local weather and comparing their locality with contrasting places around the world.

In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their understanding through studies of rivers, volcanoes, earthquakes, biomes, climate zones, the Amazon rainforest, Antarctica and global trade. As they progress, they investigate more complex issues such as migration, renewable energy, climate change and environmental sustainability.

Each unit begins by revisiting prior learning and introducing key vocabulary, enquiry questions and knowledge organisers. Learning is enriched through outdoor learning, local fieldwork, educational visits and opportunities for pupils to share their own experiences of places and cultures. These meaningful experiences help children make lasting connections and see geography as a subject that is relevant to everyday life.

Geography also provides valuable links across the wider curriculum. Pupils apply their learning through purposeful writing in English, data handling in Mathematics, studies of habitats and ecosystems in Science, and investigations into how places have changed over time in History. Digital technology, including mapping software and virtual experiences, further enhances pupils' understanding of the world.

Impact

By the end of Year 6, pupils are confident, curious and environmentally responsible geographers with a secure understanding of the world's physical and human features. They can use maps and fieldwork confidently, ask thoughtful geographical questions, analyse information from a range of sources and explain how environments and communities are connected.

Pupils leave St. Stephen's with a strong sense of place, an appreciation of cultural diversity and an understanding of the importance of protecting the environment. Assessment takes place throughout each unit through retrieval activities, discussion and end-of-unit assessments, ensuring children are well prepared for the next stage of their education.

To find out more about the geographical topics, regions and fieldwork experiences studied in each year group, please view or download our Geography Curriculum Overview below.