Intent

Our Geography curriculum, underpinned by the Grammarsaurus framework, is designed to develop children’s curiosity about the world and deepen their understanding of the places, people and environments that shape it. We aim to equip pupils with secure locational knowledge, an appreciation of human and physical processes, and a growing awareness of how the Earth’s features are interconnected. Starting with their immediate surroundings in Key Stage 1 and gradually expanding to national, European and global scales in Key Stage 2, pupils develop progressively broader spatial awareness and geographical understanding.

A key aspect of our intent is to nurture confident young geographers who can observe, question, investigate and explain. Children learn important geographical concepts such as place, space, scale, diversity, processes, interdependence and sustainability. They also develop the geographical skills needed to interpret maps, use directional language, analyse data and conduct fieldwork. Vocabulary is carefully planned and sequenced so that children develop the subject-specific language necessary to talk about geography with accuracy and confidence. Ultimately, we intend that pupils develop not only knowledge of the world but also a sense of responsibility within it—becoming thoughtful, informed and environmentally aware citizens.

Implementation

• We follow the structured, progressive Grammarsaurus Geography curriculum, ensuring coverage of locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills and fieldwork.

• Each year group studies two units: one focused on geographical knowledge and one related to fieldwork, ensuring consistent coverage of both disciplinary and substantive content.

• Key Stage 1 introduces children to their local environment, simple maps, weather patterns and the wider world (continents, oceans, the UK and its countries).

• Key Stage 2 expands learning to include biomes, climate zones, rivers, mountains, settlements, land use, sustainability and global issues, with increasing complexity and scale.

• High-quality Grammarsaurus resources—lesson packs, knowledge organisers, vocabulary cards, map work activities and fieldwork tasks—support clear and consistent teaching.

• Fieldwork is central to implementation: pupils conduct investigations in the school grounds and local area, using observation, data collection, simple compasses, maps, aerial photos and digital tools.

• Map skills progress systematically: children begin with simple plans and directional language, moving on to grid references, ordinance survey symbols and more sophisticated map interpretation.

• Vocabulary progression documents guide teachers in introducing and revisiting key terms to support confident geographical communication.

• Assessment is ongoing through questioning, retrieval tasks, quizzes, fieldwork outcomes, map work and written explanations that evaluate both knowledge and geographical skills.

• Cross-curricular links enhance learning, particularly with science (weather, habitats), maths (data handling), and computing (digital mapping and GIS-style tools).

Impact

By the end of primary school, pupils develop a secure understanding of the world around them and can confidently talk about a wide range of places, environments and geographical processes. They understand how physical features such as rivers, coasts and mountains are formed, how human activity influences landscapes, and how people and environments are interconnected on local, national and global scales. Pupils build strong mapping and fieldwork skills, enabling them to collect and interpret geographical data independently and communicate their findings clearly.

Through studying concepts such as sustainability, interdependence and environmental impact, pupils become more aware of global challenges and understand how their own actions can contribute to positive change. Their growing vocabulary and geographical confidence allow them to express ideas with clarity, accuracy and insight. Above all, pupils develop a lasting curiosity about the world, an appreciation for its diversity and a sense of responsibility towards the planet, preparing them to engage thoughtfully with geographical issues at secondary school and beyond.