Geography

At Oak Hill CE Primary, we use images of an oak tree's roots, trunk and leaves to symbolise different parts of our identity and our sense of belonging. As a school community, we work to link their symbolism to our Vision in a variety of ways.

Learn – In Geography, pupils develop strong foundational knowledge about the world around them, including physical and human geography, map skills, and environmental understanding. Geography lessons build progressively, ensuring that pupils acquire key vocabulary, factual knowledge, and analytical skills. Pupils learn to observe, question, and investigate, forming the “roots” of their geographical understanding and developing curiosity about the world.

Grow – Pupils grow by applying their knowledge and skills in a range of increasingly challenging contexts. Through fieldwork, data collection, map interpretation, and enquiry-based projects, pupils develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaborative skills. They grow in confidence as they analyse information, draw conclusions, and communicate findings effectively, reflecting on the impact of human activity on the environment and communities locally, nationally, and globally.

Flourish – Pupils flourish when they use their learning creatively and purposefully to make connections between geography and their own lives. They develop a sense of responsibility, empathy, and global awareness, understanding their role as informed and active citizens. Pupils can discuss geographical issues, suggest solutions to real-world problems, and express their ideas through a range of mediums, enabling them to learn, grow, and flourish as thoughtful, curious, and capable young geographers.

	Geography at Oak Hill C of E Primary School	[pdf 149KB]
	Geography Curriculum SMSC and BV Document	[pdf 155KB]

Intent

At Oak Hill CE Primary School, our Geography curriculum reflects our Christian ethos and underpins our vision to “Learn, Grow, Flourish.” We aim to provide a high-quality Geography curriculum that enables pupils to develop a deep understanding of the world, while fostering respect, curiosity, and empathy.

Geography is about understanding the world we live in and is an investigative subject, which develops an understanding of concepts, knowledge and skills. At Oak Hill CE Primary the intent is to inspire the children to be curious and fascinated about the world and people within it. We aim to excite the children’s interest and understanding of diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes.

The teaching of this subject will equip our pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments together with a greater understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes and to encourage the children to show their respect for their local, national and international environment.

As our pupils progress through our school and increase their Geographical skills, their growing knowledge about the world will help them to deepen their understanding of the interaction between physical and human processes and of the formation and use of landscapes and environments.

As their skills further develop our intent is that all our pupils gain knowledge, understanding and can explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time.

Our progressive scheme enables students to:

Identify and locate countries, cities, continents, and key physical features.
Understand similarities and differences between places locally, nationally, and globally.
Read, interpret, and create maps using symbols, keys, and compass points.
Collect, record, and analyse data through fieldwork and research.
Investigate geographical questions and draw informed conclusions.
Understand human and physical processes and their impact on communities and the environment around the world.
Communicate findings clearly using diagrams, writing, and presentations.
Consider sustainability and develop empathy and responsibility for the planet.

Implementation

Geography at Oak Hill is taught through the Kapow scheme, giving pupils a well‑sequenced and engaging curriculum that builds their understanding of both physical and human geography. Learning is practical and enquiry‑driven, encouraging children to explore, question, investigate, and make meaningful connections with the world around them.

Across the school, pupils develop key geographical skills — including map reading, fieldwork, data collection, and analysis — while deepening their knowledge of places, environments, and global issues. Lessons blend teacher modelling with independent and collaborative tasks, and often include real‑world experiences such as local fieldwork.

A clear progression from EYFS to Year 6

Our curriculum is carefully structured so pupils build confidence and expertise over time:

Early Years & Key Stage 1 Children begin by exploring their school and local area, developing early locational knowledge, observational skills, and simple map‑work.
Lower Key Stage 2 Pupils move on to topics such as rivers, coasts, mountains, and natural processes. They use atlases, grid references, and compass points, and start analysing geographical data and patterns.
Upper Key Stage 2 Older pupils apply their skills to more complex global themes including trade, climate change, and world regions. They compare places, evaluate environmental impact, and present findings using diagrams, presentations, and reports.

Impact

By the end of their Geography journey at Oak Hill, pupils develop a secure understanding of places, people, and environments, confidently using maps, atlases, and globes to explore countries, continents, cities, and physical features. They build a strong grasp of human and physical processes — from climate and ecosystems to population and settlement — and understand how these shape communities. Through rich fieldwork and enquiry, children learn to observe, measure, record, and analyse geographical information, presenting their findings using maps, graphs, diagrams, and digital tools. They apply critical thinking to real‑world issues, evaluating evidence, considering sustainability, and suggesting thoughtful solutions. Our curriculum nurtures empathy and global awareness, helping pupils appreciate diverse cultures and perspectives while recognising the impact of human activity on local, national, and global environments. In line with our vision to In love, we learn, grow and flourish, pupils leave Oak Hill as curious, responsible, and reflective geographers, ready to engage with the world and contribute positively to their communities.