At Christ Church, it is our intent that Geography is taught to create a curiosity and fascination about the world around us and the people within it. We learn about a range of places to help children’s understanding of human and physical processes. These places are carefully chosen to ensure children have excellent location and place knowledge. Geography is taught through blocks of learning to ensure key skills and knowledge are built on and embedded in the long term memory. Our geography curriculum has been written by staff at Christ Church and meets the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum. It is reviewed annually by the subject leader.
Our intent is rooted in Christ Church’s core values, encapsulated by SCOPE, which underpins all aspects of our curriculum design and delivery.
Spiritual
We capitalise on our Christian Ethos by learning about physical geography, the importance of becoming stewards of God’s creation and marvelling at the wonders of the natural world.
Community
Through exploring human geography, we inspire a strong understanding of the importance of all communities. By comparing and contrasting different communities around the world, we foster a culture of tolerance which celebrates diversity.
Outdoor
We believe that the learning of geography is enhanced by field work, which enables children to experience the geography curriculum immersively. This practical approach results in a deeper understanding of the concepts which have been taught to the children at a theoretical level.
Purposeful
We believe Geography should be taught to reflect current affairs and trends to capture children’s interest, creating a love for Geography which will remain with our learners for the rest of their lives. Cross curricular links are made to ensure learning is meaningful and the curriculum is carefully designed to develop knowledge and skills through sequential learning.
Enriching
At Christ Church, we develop a love of geography by enriching the curriculum with additional opportunities.which enable the children to engage with experts, visit sites of interest and follow their own roots of enquiries. By exploring geography alongside other subjects children become engaged and inquisitive learners.
As a result of their time with us, children leaving Christ Church will have learnt about places and their locations, the people who live there and how we care for the world for future generations. They will have the skills they need to be successful geographers.
Implementation – How we teach Geography
- Geography is taught in topic blocks and both discretely and through cross-curricular links with Literacy, Art, RE, and History.
- Learning is made tangible through globes, atlases, visits, fieldwork, and local projects.
- Pupils are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and use evidence to build geographical understanding.
- Teaching ensures progression from EYFS to Year 6, developing knowledge, skills, and curiosity over time.
Impact
By the end of their primary education, our pupils will be geographically literate individuals who possess a deep curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. They will have a robust understanding of both physical and human geography, recognising the complex interactions between natural processes and human activity.
- Locational Knowledge & Local Area:
Children will demonstrate a secure grasp of their own local area, understanding its unique identity and place within the wider UK and world.
- Contrasting Localities:
Pupils will be confident in identifying and discussing similarities and differences between their own environment and a contrasting locality, fostering empathy and an appreciation for global diversity.
- Fieldwork & Mapping:
Through regular, high-quality fieldwork, children will have developed the practical skills to observe, measure, and record geographical data first-hand. They will be competent in using and interpreting mapping tools, including digital resources, atlases, and grid references, to navigate and describe the world accurately.
- Environmental Issues:
Our learners will be critically aware of contemporary environmental issues, such as climate change and sustainability. They will understand how human decisions impact the planet and will feel empowered to act as responsible global citizens who advocate for a sustainable future.
To find out more about geography at Christ Church, please speak to your child’s class teacher or contact the school office on 020 8660 7500.
Please click here to see our Skills Progression document and our Knowledge Progression document for Geography.
