Geography Curriculum Intent Statement
At Our Lady and St Joseph Catholic Primary School, geography is a vital subject that enriches our pupils’ understanding of the world around them, rooted firmly in our Catholic ethos and gospel values of love, respect, stewardship, hope, and justice. Through geography, we nurture curious, compassionate, and responsible global citizens who are inspired to care for their local environment and appreciate cultural diversity. Geography supports our mission of “Searching faithfully for excellence” by encouraging pupils to explore, question, and develop a deep knowledge of places, environments, and human interactions within them. This subject is integral to broadening pupils’ horizons and fostering a lifelong love of learning about the world in which they live.
Key Aims
Our geography curriculum aims to provide all pupils with a secure foundation in essential geographical knowledge and skills, including map skills, fieldwork, place knowledge, physical and human geography, weather and climate, and local and global perspectives. We are committed to ensuring pupils develop confidence and fluency in applying these skills through well-sequenced lessons that build on prior learning and revisit key concepts regularly. This approach directly addresses school priorities to strengthen curriculum clarity and ensure pupils make strong progress by filling knowledge gaps and deepening understanding. We also seek to foster respect and stewardship for our local environment, reflecting our school’s large grounds and forest school provision, and to develop pupils’ awareness of global issues, preparing them as responsible citizens of the wider world.
Content and Skills
Pupils will develop a broad and balanced understanding of geography through hands-on fieldwork opportunities in our extensive school grounds and local community, alongside classroom-based learning. They will learn to interpret and use maps confidently, understand physical processes such as weather and climate, and explore how human activity shapes places and communities. Our curriculum explicitly teaches the vocabulary and concepts necessary to articulate geographical ideas clearly and confidently. Pupils will engage with diverse cultures, races, and religions, promoting inclusion and empathy. Through this, pupils will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills as they connect geographical knowledge to real-world issues.
Progression
Geography learning is carefully sequenced across Key Stages 1 and 2 to support the gradual building of increasingly complex mental models. Early years and Key Stage 1 focus on foundational skills such as basic map reading, local place knowledge, and simple observations about weather and the environment. In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their understanding of physical and human geography, engage in more detailed fieldwork, and explore global themes such as climate change and sustainability. Knowledge and skills are revisited and interleaved to reinforce learning and ensure pupils can confidently recall and apply their understanding in new contexts. Assessment practises are refined to ensure tasks meet pupils’ needs, closing gaps and extending learning for all, including those with SEND.
Wider Impact
Geography at Our Lady and St Joseph’s contributes significantly to pupils’ personal development, nurturing a sense of responsibility, respect, and stewardship for the world. It supports pupils in becoming active citizens who are aware of local, national, and global issues and motivated to make positive contributions to society. The subject enhances pupils’ literacy and communication skills through the explicit teaching of subject-specific vocabulary and opportunities for discussion and presentation. By embedding gospel values and fostering resilience and curiosity, geography prepares pupils not only academically but also socially and morally for their future education and life beyond school, embodying our vision of excellence in all they do.