Mary Exton Primary School

Geography

At Mary Exton Primary School, we believe that Geography helps children to understand the world around them and their place within it. Our curriculum inspires curiosity about people, places and environments, encouraging pupils to explore how physical and human processes shape the world we live in. Through geographical enquiry, children develop the ability to think critically about global issues, understand the connections between communities and environments, and recognise their responsibility to care for the world around them.

Our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6, building pupils’ knowledge, vocabulary and geographical skills over time. Learning begins with children’s immediate environment and local area before expanding to the United Kingdom, Europe and the wider world. Pupils explore a wide range of geographical themes, including location, place, climate, settlements, sustainability and change, alongside physical geography topics such as rivers, mountains, volcanoes, climate zones and natural hazards, and human geography topics including population, migration and economic activity. Through this progression, children develop a secure understanding of how places are formed, how they change and how people and environments are interconnected.

Geography is taught through enquiry-led lessons that encourage pupils to ask questions, investigate information and draw well-reasoned conclusions. Children develop confidence in using maps, atlases, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping tools, progressing from simple mapping skills in the early years to more complex skills such as coordinates and grid references in Key Stage 2. Fieldwork is an essential part of learning, allowing pupils to observe, measure, collect and analyse data in real-world contexts, including studies of the local area. Teachers explicitly develop geographical vocabulary and skills through the use of a wide range of resources, including maps, data, photographs and non-fiction texts. Pupils also explore real-world issues such as climate change, sustainability and natural hazards, helping them understand the relevance of geography in their lives. Ongoing assessment through questioning, discussion and pupils’ work ensures that geographical knowledge and skills are built progressively, preparing children to continue their geographical learning with confidence.

Useful Links and Curriculum Documents

Below are key documents that provide a clear overview of our Geography curriculum at Mary Exton Primary School. They outline the progression of knowledge, skills, and geographical understanding from Reception to Year 6, showing how pupils develop their ability to investigate places, understand environments, and make sense of the world around them. These documents also demonstrate how our curriculum meets statutory National Curriculum requirements, including the study of human and physical geography, locational knowledge, and geographical skills such as mapping, data collection, and analysis. Additionally, they highlight how enrichment opportunities—such as fieldwork, outdoor learning, and cross-curricular projects—support pupils to apply their geographical knowledge in real-world contexts. Together, these resources provide a comprehensive view of how Geography is planned, delivered, and assessed, ensuring that all children can participate, progress, and develop a lifelong curiosity about the world.