Geography
Intent
At West Ewell Primary School, our geography curriculum is designed to develop our children’s curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We aim to ensure that children know more and remember more by embedding opportunities for retrieval practice of sticky knowledge and providing opportunities for extended writing so children can write like a Geographer.
As our learners progress through the school, they will explore diverse places, people, natural and human environments, and the Earth’s key physical and human processes. We emphasise developing place knowledge beyond ‘single stories,’ helping children to understand the complexity of the world. Fieldwork and procedural knowledge are embedded throughout, ensuring children develop essential geographical skills that support their understanding of the world around them.
Implementation
At West Ewell Primary, we implement a progressive curriculum that builds upon prior knowledge each year to ensure high standards of teaching and learning. The knowledge and skills outlined in the National Curriculum form the foundation of our learning for each unit, and teachers plan with the end in mind with clear progression throughout the unit and across year groups.
Geography is taught discretely to allow dedicated curriculum time, but we also ensure a balance between history and geography, reinforcing links between these subjects where appropriate. Lessons are designed to help children think like geographers, with an emphasis on developing disciplinary knowledge. Procedural knowledge, particularly fieldwork, is embedded within each unit to provide children with practical, hands-on experiences that reinforce their understanding.
Our curriculum is structured to enable children to build upon their locational and place knowledge, human and physical geography, and geographical skills in a spiraling sequence. Retrieval practice is incorporated to help pupils reinforce and retain previous learning, ensuring that knowledge is not only acquired but also applied effectively.
Impact
At West Ewell Primary School, the impact of our geography curriculum is evident in children’s increased awareness of the wider world, their ability to recall and apply prior knowledge, and their deepened understanding of people, places, and environments. Through our structured programme of study and progressive skills development, children gain confidence in using geographical vocabulary, concepts, and fieldwork techniques.
By embedding extended writing opportunities, we ensure children can articulate their understanding clearly and coherently. Fieldwork and real-life experiences further reinforce learning in a tangible way, allowing pupils to develop a secure grasp of geographical processes.
Ultimately, our geography curriculum inspires children’s curiosity, encourages them to ask meaningful questions, and equips them with the knowledge and skills to explore and understand the world with confidence.
WEPS Geography Programme of Study
