At Abbey Park Primary School, our geography curriculum helps pupils to understand the world around them, their place within it and the connections between people, places and environments. Through the study of geography, children develop curiosity about the Earth and an understanding of how human and physical processes shape our world, supported by our curriculum drivers of sustainability and identity and equity.

Our geography curriculum is built around the key knowledge pathways of connection and interdependence, sustainability and locational knowledge. These threads run throughout the curriculum from Early Years to Year 6, helping pupils to make meaningful links between people, environments and places across the world. The curriculum is carefully designed to prepare pupils not only for success in primary school, but also for a confident transition into Year 7 and the next stage of geographical learning.

What children learn

Our geography curriculum is carefully planned to ensure pupils gain a coherent understanding of local, national and global geography. Pupils explore a wide range of places, environments and geographical issues, enabling them to understand both the diversity and interconnectedness of the world.

Across the school, learning is built around key recurring ideas such as:
• place and locational knowledge
• connection and interdependence
• human and physical features
• environments and sustainability
• settlement and land use
• global diversity and change

These concepts are revisited across different topics and year groups so that pupils deepen their understanding and make connections in their learning over time. Pupils learn how places are connected economically, environmentally and culturally, and how decisions made in one part of the world can impact another.

Building knowledge over time

Geography is taught in a carefully sequenced way from Early Years to Year 7, allowing pupils to build knowledge progressively.

• In Early Years, children begin by exploring their immediate environment, noticing similarities and differences in the world around them and developing early mapping and observational skills.

• In Key Stage 1, pupils develop locational knowledge by learning about the local area, the countries of the United Kingdom and contrasting locations around the world. They begin to use maps, atlases and geographical vocabulary.

• In Key Stage 2, pupils study a broader range of regions, countries and environmental issues, developing a deeper understanding of physical and human geography, sustainability and global interdependence.

• By the end of Year 6, pupils are prepared for the expectations of Year 7 through secure geographical knowledge, confident map skills, fieldwork experience and the ability to think critically about global issues and environmental challenges.

• This strong foundation ensures pupils enter Year 7 ready to study geography in greater depth, using and applying their understanding of location, sustainability and interdependence to more complex geographical enquiries and investigations.

Throughout the curriculum, prior learning is regularly revisited to ensure pupils remember key knowledge and build secure long-term understanding.

Thinking like a geographer

In addition to knowledge, pupils are taught how to work as geographers. This includes:

• asking geographical questions
• using maps, atlases and digital mapping tools
• collecting and interpreting data
• comparing places and environments
• understanding human and physical processes
• exploring connection and interdependence between places
• conducting fieldwork and observations

These disciplinary skills are explicitly taught and developed across the school, enabling pupils to think critically about the world and the challenges it faces.

Language, vocabulary and communication

Developing geographical vocabulary is a key priority. Pupils are taught and encouraged to use subject-specific language such as climate, population, erosion, sustainability and interdependence accurately in both discussion and writing.

Opportunities for talk are built into lessons so that pupils can:

• explain their ideas
• describe and compare places
• discuss environmental issues and viewpoints
• justify their opinions using evidence

This supports both understanding and confidence across the curriculum.

Making connections

Where meaningful, geography is linked to other subjects to deepen understanding. Pupils explore geography through:

• local area studies and fieldwork
• global issues and environmental change
• learning about diverse cultures and communities
• the impact humans have on the environment
• exploring sustainability and responsible decision-making

Links are also made through high-quality texts used within the school’s Literacy Tree approach, allowing pupils to deepen their geographical understanding through rich vocabulary, storytelling and diverse perspectives from around the world. This helps pupils make meaningful connections between reading, writing and their geographical learning.

This helps pupils to understand different perspectives and recognise the interconnected nature of the modern world, reflecting the school’s commitment to sustainability and identity and equity.

Applying learning

Pupils are given regular opportunities to apply their knowledge through:

• fieldwork and investigations
• mapwork and data analysis
• discussion and enquiry tasks
• short and extended writing
• presentations and problem-solving activities

This ensures pupils are not only learning geographical facts, but are able to use their knowledge to explain patterns, relationships, connections and environmental issues.

Assessment and progress

Assessment is ongoing and used to support learning. Teachers:

• check understanding regularly through questioning and retrieval
• assess pupils’ ability to recall and apply knowledge
• evaluate how well pupils use geographical skills and vocabulary
• monitor pupils’ understanding of places, processes, sustainability and interdependence

This ensures that learning is secure and that any gaps are identified and addressed.

What pupils achieve

By the end of Year 7, pupils at Abbey Park Primary School:

• have a secure understanding of key geographical concepts and locational knowledge
• can explain how physical and human processes shape places and environments
• understand connection and interdependence between people, places and environments
• use maps, atlases and geographical vocabulary confidently and accurately
• show curiosity, critical thinking and responsibility towards sustainability and the environment
• are well prepared for the transition to Year 8 geography and future learning

They leave primary school as knowledgeable, reflective and informed learners, ready for the next stage of their education.

Inclusion

Our geography curriculum is designed so that all pupils can access and succeed. Teaching is adapted to meet the needs of all learners through:

• scaffolding and support where needed
• clear explanations and modelling
• practical and visual learning opportunities
• opportunities for challenge and deeper thinking

This ensures every child can develop as a geographer, regardless of their starting point.