Menu

Geography

Choose a subject

Intent

At Oxhey Wood Primary School, our geography curriculum is designed to inspire pupils’ curiosity and fascination about the world and its people. We aim to develop children’s understanding of diverse places, environments, and cultures, while equipping them with key geographical skills that prepare them for future learning.

Our intent is that pupils will:

  • Develop secure knowledge of continents, oceans, countries, and key human and physical features.

  • Understand how places and environments are formed and how they change over time.

  • Build strong geographical skills, including map reading, fieldwork, enquiry, and data interpretation.

  • Develop respect for different cultures and a sense of responsibility for protecting the environment.

  • Become confident, inquisitive learners who ask thoughtful questions and think critically about global issues.

Implementation

Geography is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that builds knowledge and skills progressively from Early Years through to Year 6. Concepts such as place, space, scale, physical and human processes, and environmental interaction are revisited and deepened year-on-year.

Our implementation includes:

Progressive curriculum planning

A structured curriculum map outlines key objectives, vocabulary, skills, and knowledge for each year group. Teachers revisit and build on prior learning to support long-term retention.

Practical fieldwork

Fieldwork is embedded across the school. Pupils observe, measure, and record the world around them through studies in the school grounds and wider local area.

High-quality resources

Children use atlases, globes, digital maps, OS maps, aerial photographs, and practical outdoor activities to strengthen understanding.

Cross-curricular links

Geography learning is enriched through connections with science, history, art, English, and PSHE—helping pupils make meaningful links across the curriculum.

Inclusive teaching

Lessons include enquiry, investigation, practical tasks, discussion, problem-solving, and use of geographical vocabulary to support all learners and foster a genuine enthusiasm for the subject.

Impact

By the end of their time at Oxhey Wood Primary School, pupils will have a strong foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, ready for the demands of Key Stage 3 and beyond.

The impact of our geography curriculum is that pupils:

  • Can recall key geographical facts, vocabulary, and concepts.

  • Demonstrate strong map, fieldwork, and enquiry skills.

  • Understand the similarities and differences between local, national, and global environments.

  • Show awareness of environmental issues and understand how human actions influence the planet.

  • Are independent, curious, confident learners who can talk clearly about geographical ideas.

Impact is measured through teacher assessment, pupil voice, book monitoring, and reviews of curriculum coverage to ensure all children achieve well and make good progress.

Progression of Geography at Oxhey Wood Primary School

EYFS (Early Years) - Understanding of the world

 

Children explore their immediate environment through play, observation, and discussion.

They learn to:

  • Talk about places that are familiar to them.

  • Notice similarities and differences between places and cultures.

  • Use simple positional language.

  • Recognise simple features in photos or maps.

  • Show curiosity about weather, seasons, and natural changes.

Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2)

Children begin to broaden their understanding of the world.

They learn to:

  • Name and locate continents and oceans.

  • Identify the countries of the UK and their capital cities.

  • Use basic geographical vocabulary (city, town, mountain, river).

  • Use simple maps, globes, and aerial photographs.

  • Complete basic fieldwork in the school grounds or local area.

  • Compare a small area of the UK with a contrasting non-European location.

 

Lower Key Stage 2 (Years 3–4)

Children deepen their understanding of place, space, and natural processes.

They learn to:

  • Locate European countries and major world regions.

  • Understand climate zones, biomes, and vegetation belts.

  • Describe rivers, mountains, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

  • Use 4-figure grid references, map symbols, and keys.

  • Conduct structured fieldwork and present findings.

  • Compare UK regions and global locations.

 

Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5–6)

Children apply their geographical knowledge to more complex global topics.

They learn to:

  • Locate major world cities, countries, and physical features.

  • Understand economic activity, trade, and natural resource distribution.

  • Explore how human and physical processes interact (e.g., settlement, land use, climate change).

  • Use 6-figure grid references, OS maps, and digital mapping with accuracy.

  • Carry out more independent fieldwork, analysing patterns and drawing conclusions.

  • Compare regions in the UK, Europe, and the wider world in depth.

Back