Geography
Intent
At St Martin’s Catholic Primary School, geography is taught to inspire curiosity, awe and respect for God’s world, enabling pupils to understand their place within it and their responsibility as global citizens. Rooted in our Catholic Social Teaching, geography supports pupils to develop compassion, stewardship of creation and a strong sense of social justice.
Using the Mrs Mactivity Glorious Geography scheme, our geography curriculum is ambitious, knowledge-rich and coherently sequenced. It is designed to ensure that all pupils, including those with SEND and disadvantaged pupils, progressively build secure geographical knowledge, skills and vocabulary from EYFS to Year 6.
Our intent is that pupils will:
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Develop a secure knowledge of locational and place-based geography, including the UK, Europe and the wider world.
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Understand human and physical geography, recognising how people and environments interact and change over time.
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Acquire and apply disciplinary geographical skills, such as map reading, fieldwork, data interpretation and enquiry.
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Use and retain precise geographical vocabulary to articulate understanding confidently.
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Make meaningful links between geography, sustainability and their role as stewards of God’s creation.
The curriculum is carefully sequenced to build from local geography (Caversham and Reading) to national and global contexts, enabling pupils to anchor new learning in familiar places before extending their understanding outward.
Implementation
Geography is taught through the Mrs Mactivity Glorious Geography scheme, which provides a clear progression of knowledge and skills, supported by high-quality resources and carefully structured lessons.
Curriculum Design and Sequencing
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The curriculum follows a spiral model, revisiting key concepts such as settlement, climate, trade and sustainability with increasing depth and complexity.
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Units are sequenced to ensure pupils first secure foundational knowledge before applying it to more complex geographical contexts.
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Local geography is prioritised, with regular opportunities to study the school’s locality and compare it with contrasting regions.
Teaching and Learning
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Lessons are enquiry-based, encouraging pupils to ask and answer geographical questions.
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Teachers use explicit vocabulary instruction, supported by knowledge organisers and retrieval activities.
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Learning builds incrementally within and across units, with regular opportunities for recap and review.
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Fieldwork and map skills are embedded where appropriate, including the use of atlases, aerial photographs and digital mapping tools.
Inclusion and Adaptation
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Lessons are adapted to meet the needs of all learners, including SEND pupils, through scaffolding, visual supports, pre-teaching of vocabulary and alternative ways to record learning.
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High expectations are maintained for all pupils, with support enabling access to ambitious geographical content.
Assessment
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Assessment is formative and ongoing, using questioning, low-stakes quizzes and pupil discussion to check understanding.
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Knowledge organisers and retrieval practice support long-term retention.
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Teachers use assessment to inform future planning and address misconceptions promptly.
Wider Curriculum Links
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Catholic Social Teaching underpins learning, reinforcing the dignity of all people and care for our common home.
Impact
The impact of our geography curriculum is evident in pupils’ growing confidence, knowledge and ability to think geographically.
By the time pupils leave St Martin’s, they:
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Demonstrate a secure and coherent understanding of key geographical knowledge across physical, human and locational geography.
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Can confidently use geographical vocabulary, maps and data to explain patterns, processes and comparisons.
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Show curiosity about the world and an informed awareness of global issues such as sustainability and inequality.
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Make thoughtful connections between geography, faith and moral responsibility, recognising their role as stewards of God’s creation.
Pupil voice, work in books and classroom discussions show that knowledge is retained over time and built upon year on year. Teachers have a clear understanding of progression, and pupils are well-prepared for the next stage of their education.
Overall, geography at St Martin’s equips pupils with the knowledge, skills and values needed to understand the world, respect others and live out our school mission in an ever-changing global society.
