Geography

At Kimberley Primary School and Nursery, Geography inspires pupils to develop a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people that will remain with them for life. Throughout EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, pupils gain a secure understanding of the world, its physical and human features, and their place within it as local, national and global citizens.

Our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced and progressive, rooted in the National Curriculum, yet adapted to meet the needs of our KPS pupils, this learning journey begins in the Early Years through Understanding the World. Children first explore their immediate environment, their community and similarities and differences between places, people and cultures. This strong foundation is then built upon in KS1 and KS2 through the development of locational knowledge, place knowledge, human and physical geography, fieldwork and geographical skills.

We aim for all pupils to:

develop a strong sense of place and belonging within their local community and the wider world;
understand the interaction between people, places and environments;
ask and answer geographical questions through enquiry, investigation and fieldwork;
interpret maps, atlases, globes and digital technologies confidently;
appreciate diversity, sustainability and the importance of protecting our planet;
become informed, responsible and respectful global citizens.

Our Geography curriculum reflects and promotes our school values:

Gracious – pupils learn to value and respect different communities, cultures and environments, understanding how kindness and stewardship help protect our world.

Resilient – through enquiry, problem-solving and fieldwork, children learn perseverance, adapting their thinking and responding positively to challenge.

Empathy – pupils explore the lives, experiences and challenges of people across the world, developing compassion and understanding of different perspectives.

Ambitious – we encourage children to think beyond their immediate surroundings, aspire to make a positive difference and engage with important global issues such as climate change and sustainability.

Thoughtful and Tolerant – Geography helps pupils reflect critically on the world around them, appreciate diversity and respect the beliefs, values and lifestyles of others.

Oracy is central to Geography teaching. Pupils are given regular opportunities to discuss, debate, present and justify their ideas using ambitious geographical vocabulary. Through partner talk, collaborative enquiry and whole-class discussion, children learn to communicate confidently and respectfully, strengthening both their understanding and their voice.

Our Geography curriculum also supports our Rights Respecting Schools ethos by helping children understand the rights of all people and their responsibilities as global citizens. Pupils explore themes such as access to clean water, safe housing, education, equality and environmental protection, making meaningful links to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This enables children to recognise fairness, challenge injustice and understand how their actions can contribute to a better world.

Through Geography, we strive to nurture knowledgeable, compassionate and articulate learners who are prepared to engage positively with an ever-changing world.

Geography Implementation

Geography is taught through a carefully planned, progressive curriculum from EYFS to Year 6, ensuring clear progression in knowledge, skills and vocabulary in line with the National Curriculum.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In EYFS, Geography is taught through the Understanding the World area of learning. Children explore their immediate environment, observe seasonal and environmental changes, compare places and begin to understand similarities and differences between people, communities and the natural world.

Learning is practical, play-based and language-rich, with opportunities for exploration both indoors and outdoors. Children develop early geographical language through discussion, storytelling, visits and first-hand experiences. This supports early Oracy development as children describe, question and explain what they see and experience.

Key Stage 1

In KS1, pupils begin to develop knowledge of the world, the United Kingdom and their local area. They study:

the school and local environment;
simple maps and directional language;
weather patterns and seasonal changes;
continents, oceans and significant global locations;
similarities and differences between local and contrasting non-European places.

Pupils use maps, globes, aerial photographs and simple fieldwork to ask questions, observe features and record findings. Speaking and listening opportunities are embedded through discussion, partner talk and explaining geographical similarities and differences.

Key Stage 2

In KS2, pupils deepen their understanding of physical and human geography through the study of:

regions of the UK, Europe and the wider world;
rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and climate zones;
settlements, trade, land use and natural resources;
environmental issues and sustainability;
comparisons between places and how environments change over time.

Fieldwork becomes more sophisticated, enabling pupils to collect, analyse and present data using maps, atlases, compasses and digital mapping tools. Pupils are encouraged to debate environmental issues, justify opinions and present findings using increasingly precise geographical vocabulary.

Geography is taught through:

enquiry-based learning that promotes curiosity and questioning;
meaningful fieldwork and first-hand experiences;
high-quality texts, images, maps and digital resources;
explicit teaching of ambitious subject-specific vocabulary;
regular opportunities for discussion, debate and presentation to strengthen Oracy;
cross-curricular links where purposeful, particularly with science, history, English and PSHE.

Teachers revisit prior learning regularly to support retention and ensure knowledge is embedded over time. Retrieval practice, vocabulary development and opportunities for application are built into lessons.

Geography provides meaningful opportunities to embed our Rights Respecting Schools agenda. Pupils explore fairness, equality, sustainability and global responsibility through topics such as climate change, migration, natural disasters and access to resources. They learn about children’s rights around the world and understand their own responsibilities in creating a fairer, more sustainable future.

Geography is taught to be accessible for all learners. Scaffolding, adapted resources and targeted support ensure all pupils can succeed, while challenge is provided through deeper questioning, independent enquiry and critical thinking tasks.

By the end of Year 6, pupils leave our school with a strong geographical understanding, the confidence to communicate their ideas effectively, and the knowledge and values needed to contribute positively to their local community and the wider world.