Geography

“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced.” Sir David Attenborough. 

Intent – Why do we teach Geography?

Geography is about understanding the world we live in. It is a subject more relevant than ever that helps children make sense of their surroundings and the ever-evolving environment in which we live.

At Luttons Community Primary Academy, we encourage children to develop a strong knowledge of the world; beginning with their local area and gradually widening their horizons to places and cultures further afield. By building a secure understanding of their immediate environment first, pupils develop a clear sense of place and belonging, which supports their confidence as learners and global citizens.

Our geography curriculum nurtures curiosity about the wider world, inspiring children to ask questions, explore connections and understand how places are shaped and interconnected. Through this, pupils develop knowledge and skills that support lifelong learning and help them make sense of an ever-changing world.

In short, Geography matters.

Implementation – What do we teach? What does this look like?

At Luttons Community Primary Academy, our geography curriculum is designed to ensure that all pupils, regardless of background, ability or additional needs, are supported to succeed and become the very best version of themselves.

Geography is taught every other half term, on rotation with History. This allows children to fully immerse themselves in each subject, developing secure knowledge and subject-specific skills without dilution.

We teach the National Curriculum for Geography through a carefully planned and sequenced progression of knowledge and skills. There is a clear progression of geographical skills across each key stage, ensuring that pupils build on prior learning and develop increasing independence and confidence as geographers. Learning builds systematically from year to year, enabling children to deepen their understanding and strengthen their geographical thinking over time. Key vocabulary and concepts are revisited and developed to ensure knowledge is retained and embedded.

Each unit is enriched with engaging learning experiences that provide meaningful context and inspire curiosity. Pupils develop essential geographical skills, including map reading, fieldwork, data interpretation and geographical enquiry, alongside an understanding of both physical and human processes.

Impact – What will this look like?

At Luttons Community Primary Academy, the impact of our geography curriculum is reflected in the knowledge pupils retain, the skills they confidently apply and the curiosity they demonstrate about the world around them. Children are able to speak confidently about their learning, use geographical vocabulary accurately and make meaningful connections between places, processes and environments.

Pupils develop a strong understanding and appreciation of their local area through strengthened links within the locality. By engaging with their immediate environment and community, children build a secure sense of place and recognise the significance of where they live within a wider geographical context.

We evaluate the effectiveness of our curriculum through a range of strategies to assess what pupils have attained and retained over time. These include:

• Book Looks: To monitor progression, coverage, and quality of work.

• Pupil Voice: To understand children’s experiences and depth of understanding.

• ‘Memory Lane’ & ‘What’s Next?’: To set objectives into a wider learning context at the start of each lesson.

• Formative Assessment: Regular feedback and mini-quizzes to address misconceptions and strengthen prior learning.

Through these approaches, we ensure that children know more, remember more and can apply their geographical learning with confidence.