Geography helps children understand the world around them, from the local community of Bathford to the wider world beyond. Through studying places, people and environments, children develop curiosity, responsibility and a deeper understanding of the connections between people and the planet.

Our Vision for Geography

At Bathford Church School, our vision of Grow, Care, Serve, Share is at the heart of our Geography curriculum.

We want children to become curious geographers who ask questions about the world, understand how places are connected and appreciate the diversity of people, environments and cultures.

Through geography, children develop an awareness of local, national and global issues and learn about their role in creating a more sustainable future. We encourage children to care for both their local environment and the wider world and to understand how their actions can make a positive difference.

What Do Children Learn?

We use the Kapow Primary Geography curriculum alongside our carefully planned long-term curriculum to ensure children's knowledge and skills develop progressively throughout the school.

Children learn about:

• Places and regions
• Physical and human geography
• Maps and geographical skills
• Settlements and land use
• Weather and climate
• Rivers, oceans and coasts
• Volcanoes and earthquakes
• Sustainability and environmental change
• Population and migration
• Global connections and trade

Our Geography curriculum is linked to our whole-school themes of:

• Identity and Diversity
• Social Justice and Equity
• Sustainable Development

These themes help children make meaningful connections between their learning, their local community and the wider world.

Thinking Like Geographers

At Bathford, children develop as geographers through five key lenses:

• Place and Space – understanding locations and their significance.
• Physical and Human Geography – exploring natural environments and human activity.
• Culture and Diversity – understanding different communities, cultures and ways of life.
• Fieldwork – investigating, observing and collecting geographical information.
• Sustainable Development – considering how people can care for the environment and use resources responsibly.

These lenses help children develop a deeper understanding of the world and their place within it. 

How Do Children Learn?

Geography is taught through engaging enquiry questions that encourage children to investigate, explore and think critically about the world around them.

Children learn through:

• Map work and geographical skills
• Fieldwork and practical investigations
• Data collection and interpretation
• Exploring local, national and global environments
• Comparing different places and regions
• Discussion, debate and enquiry

Children develop their understanding through studying both their local area and places around the world. Wherever possible, learning is enriched through first-hand experiences and opportunities to explore geographical features in the local environment.

In Key Stage 2, Geography is taught as part of our mixed-age afternoon learning model. Learning is carefully sequenced to ensure progression in geographical knowledge and skills across the key stage.

What Will Children Take Away?

Through Geography, children develop:

• Curiosity about the world around them
• Knowledge of different places, cultures and environments
• Geographical enquiry and fieldwork skills
• Map-reading and observation skills
• An understanding of sustainability and environmental responsibility
• The ability to make connections between local and global issues

We want our children to leave Bathford as informed, responsible and active global citizens who understand their role in caring for the world around them.

Geography Curriculum

Our

Geography Long Term plan  

provides an overview of the key places, themes, concepts and skills studied throughout the school.

Children explore a wide range of geographical questions, including the importance of oceans and rainforests, how rivers are used, why people live near volcanoes, where food and energy come from, how populations change and how communities interact with their environments. Learning builds progressively from Reception through to Year 6, developing children's geographical knowledge, understanding and fieldwork skills over time