Weston Village Primary SchoolGeography
Our Vision
At Weston Village Primary School, we believe Geography ignites children’s curiosity about the world around them. It plays a vital role in our broad, balanced, and inclusive curriculum, helping our pupils to understand diverse places, people, resources, and environments. Through stimulating fieldwork, mapwork, and enquiry-led investigations, our pupils develop a sense of place and responsibility as global citizens.
Our approach to Geography empowers every child to Be the Best They Can Be, in line with our Secrets of Success ethos. Through carefully sequenced learning and practical experiences, we foster a life-long interest in the world and an appreciation of how it is changing.
Intent
Our Geography curriculum is designed to inspire children’s fascination with the world and equip them with the knowledge and skills to explore it. We aim for our pupils to develop a solid understanding of locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills. Our curriculum:
Builds a deep understanding of the local area, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the wider world.
Teaches children to use maps, atlases, globes, and digital mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.
Encourages enquiry, observation, and problem-solving through meaningful fieldwork opportunities.
Promotes sustainability and environmental awareness, encouraging children to consider their role as global citizens.
Develops geographical vocabulary and skills progressively from EYFS to Year 6.
We place inclusion at the heart of our curriculum. Every child, regardless of need or background, accesses a rich and supportive Geography education. We make adaptations where needed and celebrate every child’s contributions.
Implementation
Geography is taught discreetly each term, with each unit designed to build knowledge and understanding over time. Our well-structured scheme ensures clear progression from Early Years through to Year 6. Geography lessons are engaging, interactive, and enquiry-led.
Our curriculum covers:
Locational Knowledge: Understanding where places are and the key characteristics that define them.
Place Knowledge: Investigating similarities and differences between places at a local, national, and global scale.
Human and Physical Geography: Exploring the physical processes shaping our world and human interactions with the environment.
Geographical Skills and Fieldwork: Using maps, compasses, and fieldwork techniques to collect, analyse, and communicate geographical information.
Fieldwork is an integral part of our curriculum. Children explore their local area, visit contrasting environments, and complete fieldwork tasks that develop their observation, measurement, and recording skills.
Our Curriculum in Action
EYFS (Sparrows): Children learn about their immediate environment through stories, maps, and outdoor exploration. They begin to understand the natural world and make simple observations of their surroundings.
Key Stage 1: Pupils explore the school grounds and local area, identifying key human and physical features. They learn about the United Kingdom and its four countries and study hot and cold areas of the world, such as the Arctic and the Sahara Desert. Topics include Our School and Local Area, Weather Patterns, and Comparing Countries.
Lower Key Stage 2: Pupils build locational knowledge of Europe and North and South America, exploring physical features such as rivers and mountains and human features like settlements and land use. They develop map skills and complete fieldwork. Topics include Extreme Earth, Rivers and the Water Cycle, and Settlements.
Upper Key Stage 2: Pupils explore the impact of human geography on the environment, including trade, land use, and sustainability. They deepen their understanding of biomes, climate zones, and the physical processes that shape the earth. Topics include Global Trade, Mountains and Volcanoes, and Geographical Regions of the UK.
Enrichment and Wider Opportunities
Geography at Weston extends beyond the classroom. We provide:
Fieldwork opportunities in the local area, including studies of the school grounds, village, and nearby river systems.
Educational visits to places such as coastal environments and contrasting cities.
Participation in whole-school initiatives like Eco Warriors and community projects focusing on sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Opportunities to explore Geography through Forest School, learning outdoors in a practical and hands-on way.
Our pupils are encouraged to ask questions, investigate, and reflect on their learning. They learn to appreciate their role in protecting and understanding the world they live in.
Impact
We measure the impact of our Geography curriculum by:
Monitoring pupil work, including topic books, through regular work scrutiny.
Gathering pupil voice to evaluate their understanding and enjoyment of Geography.
Termly assessments and teacher moderation to ensure children are achieving well.
Fieldwork evaluations and presentations that showcase learning beyond the classroom.
Our children leave Weston Village Primary School as inquisitive geographers who have developed an understanding of the world’s diversity and complexity. They are prepared to continue their geographical studies and apply their knowledge as responsible global citizens.
Inclusion
At Weston, Geography is for everyone. We ensure all pupils, including those with SEND, can fully participate and thrive. We provide differentiated resources, additional support, and adapt tasks where necessary. Our inclusive approach allows all children to develop a deep understanding of the world.
Pupil Voice
“I love learning about different countries and where they are on the map.” – Year 2 pupil
“We did fieldwork about rivers nearby. It made me think about how water travels.” – Year 4 pupil
“Learning about global trade made me realise how connected we all are.” – Year 6 pupil
Subject Leadership
Our Geography Lead, Mr Robinson, is passionate about developing high-quality, inspiring geography provision at Weston. He ensures staff have access to CPD and quality resources, monitors curriculum delivery, and works with pupils to develop their geographical knowledge and enquiry skills.
Want to know more?
Take a look at our:
Geography Policy
Geography Long Term Plan