Geography at St. Ignatius
Intent
At St Ignatius Catholic Primary School, our Geography curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity about the world around us and encourage children to explore their place within it. Using Grammarsaurus, our curriculum is knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced to ensure pupils build understanding of physical and human geography, as well as geographical skills, progressively from the Early Years through to Year 6.
Our intent is to ensure pupils:
Develop a secure knowledge of key geographical concepts, including physical processes, human environments, and places both near and far
Acquire and use a wide geographical vocabulary, enabling them to describe, compare and explain patterns and phenomena
Build enquiry skills to ask questions, investigate, interpret sources, and communicate findings effectively
Understand their role as global citizens, developing a sense of stewardship for the environment and empathy for communities around the world
We aim for all pupils, regardless of starting point, to see themselves as geographers and to develop the curiosity, knowledge, and confidence to explore and make sense of the world.
Implementation
Our Geography curriculum is delivered through engaging, enquiry-based lessons, planned and sequenced using Grammarsaurus to ensure clear progression of knowledge, skills, and vocabulary.
Key features of our implementation include:
Carefully sequenced lessons that build on prior learning and revisit key concepts to move knowledge from short-term to long-term memory
Explicit teaching of geographical vocabulary, maps, atlases, and fieldwork skills
Opportunities for hands-on investigations, including data collection, fieldwork, and local area studies
Cross-curricular links to English, Maths, Science, and Art where meaningful to deepen understanding
Assessment for learning to identify misconceptions, monitor progress, and adapt teaching for all learners
Lessons are designed to be inclusive and accessible, with support for pupils with SEND and challenge for those ready to extend their thinking.
Impact
The impact of our Geography curriculum is that pupils:
Retain and apply key geographical knowledge and skills confidently
Can articulate their understanding using accurate geographical vocabulary
Demonstrate curiosity and enthusiasm for exploring places, environments, and people
Apply enquiry skills to answer questions, solve problems, and make informed decisions
Develop an awareness of environmental and global issues, preparing them to act as responsible citizens
By the end of Year 6, pupils leave St Ignatius Catholic Primary School as knowledgeable, confident geographers, able to make connections between places, processes, and people, and equipped to continue their learning in secondary education.