Intent

At Langwith Bassett Primary Academy (LBPA), we want all pupils to leave Year 6 with a secure understanding of the world around them and their place within it. Through our carefully planned geography curriculum, pupils develop curiosity about different places, people, environments and cultures, inspiring them to ask questions and explore beyond their own experiences.

We aim to foster a fascination with the world and encourage children to become responsible global citizens. By learning about diverse communities and cultures, pupils develop respect, tolerance and an appreciation of the similarities and differences that make our world unique. Throughout their geographical learning, children are encouraged to think critically, ask thoughtful questions and make connections between the places they study and current events happening around the world.

We also want pupils to recognise the relevance of geography in everyday life by making meaningful links between their learning and the wider world, helping them understand how geographical knowledge influences the decisions we make and the lives we lead.

Implementation

Geography is taught through three carefully sequenced units each year. These units are designed to build progressively on pupils’ knowledge and skills, enabling them to revisit and strengthen key concepts throughout their primary education. Fundamental geographical knowledge introduced in Key Stage 1 is regularly revisited and developed further in Key Stage 2, ensuring pupils retain and deepen their understanding over time.

Our curriculum encourages children to think and work like geographers. A variety of teaching approaches are used, including enquiry-based learning, discussion, map work, data analysis and practical investigations. Geography is taught both inside and outside the classroom, with fieldwork opportunities embedded within the units to provide real-life contexts for learning.

Cross-curricular links are carefully planned to enrich learning and demonstrate the importance of geography across the wider curriculum. For example, pupils may use mathematical skills to collect, interpret and present geographical data through graphs and charts.

Teachers use ongoing assessment throughout lessons to identify and address misconceptions, ensuring all pupils develop a secure understanding of geographical concepts and skills. Educational visits and local fieldwork experiences further enhance learning and allow pupils to apply their knowledge in meaningful and memorable ways.

Impact

The impact of our geography curriculum is measured through a range of formative and summative assessment opportunities. At the beginning and end of each unit, pupils complete a concept map, allowing them to assess their understanding of key vocabulary and concepts. This enables teachers to identify progress, address gaps in learning, and plan opportunities for retrieval and reinforcement where needed.

Pupils record their geographical learning in dedicated books, presenting their work in a variety of ways, including written explanations, maps, diagrams, photographs, graphs, tables, and digital media. This provides a clear record of progression in both knowledge and skills throughout the school.

Regular pupil voice activities provide valuable insight into pupils’ experiences of geography, helping the subject leader identify strengths and areas for further development. As a result, pupils leave LBPA with a strong understanding of geographical concepts, an appreciation of the wider world and the confidence to engage thoughtfully with global issues.