Geography

Curriculum Area: Geography

Subject Leader: Miss Jessica Beck  

Intent 

At Brookfield Community Primary School, our Geography curriculum is designed to inspire pupils’ curiosity, deepen their understanding of the world we live in and equip them with the knowledge and skills to become responsible global citizens. We aim to provoke a rich understanding through curiosity and fascination.  

The national curriculum for Geography ensures that all pupils: 

• Fosters a lifelong interest in the world around them and encourages children to ask enquiry-led geographical questions.  

• Build strong locational knowledge so pupils can confidently identify continents, countries, cities, landscapes, climate zones and key geographical features.  

• Develop children’s understanding of how human actions shape the environment and how environments influence human decisions.  

• Ensure progression of vocabulary and disciplinary knowledge through carefully sequenced units.  

• Equip pupils with fieldwork skills to: 

  • Collect, analyse and communicate with a range of data gathered through experiences of fieldwork that deepen their understanding of geographical processes 

  • Interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) 

  • Communicate geographical information in a variety of ways, including through maps, numerical and quantitative skills and writing at length. 

At Brookfield Primary School, we motivate and inspire children through a curriculum that stimulates, engages, and challenges all learners.  

Our Geography curriculum aims to develop children’s awareness of the wider world and their place within it. It encourages them to take an active role in the community and work with others to make our planet more peaceful, sustainable and fairer. We hope that our children will become passionate about the planet and become actively involved in protecting the environment. 

Geography at Brookfield is designed to provide our children with the subject- specific language they need to describe, question and discuss the world, as well as their place in it.  

Our School Mission Statement of ‘Many hearts make a school’ and our School Values, are at the heart of our curriculum and all that we do at Brookfield Community Primary School. 

Implementation 

At Brookfield Community Primary School, we implement an inclusive curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils including those with special educational needs and the more able. 

The curriculum is progressive and based on the needs of our children. Geography skills are built into lessons, in order to embed geographical understanding. 

At the beginning of each unit, children share their prior knowledge, which informs planning and teaching. A series of stimulating lessons are planned, with clear knowledge and skills -based learning objectives and subject-specific vocabulary, which is included on the termly knowledge organisers.  

End of unit assessment tasks are used to demonstrate progress, knowledge and understanding. Teachers assess learning in Geography against knowledge-based and skills-based learning objectives. 

Our Geography curriculum is delivered through highly effective ‘quality first teaching’ as described in the Teaching and Learning Policy. Enrichment opportunities, including inspirational visitors and exciting educational visits, provide our children with rich experiences and enhance teaching, learning and knowledge. 

Impact 

By the end of each key stage, pupils will have developed a secure geographical knowledge and a strong set of disciplinary skills. The impact of the Geography curriculum is seen in: 

• Confident, curious learners who can discuss and explain geographical concepts using accurate and ambitious vocabulary.  

• Secure understanding of places and environments, demonstrated through high-quality written outcomes, maps, diagrams and fieldwork.  

• Clear progression visible in books, pupil voice and assessment outcomes aligned with the National Curriculum and the Geographical Association expectations. 

• Children who can think like Geographers, interpreting data, using maps and recognising how human and physical processes interact.  

• Pupils who value and respect the world, demonstrating an awareness of sustainability, global issues and their role in protecting our planet.  

 Through high-quality teaching, children develop curiosity, resilience, and a sense of responsibility for the world around them. They gain the confidence to question, investigate, and explain Geographical concepts using appropriate vocabulary and methods.

Ultimately, our Geography teaching equips children with the skills, knowledge, and learning attitudes needed to be inquisitive, independent thinkers — empowering them to be the best they can be and to approach the wider world with curiosity and confidence.