Geography

At St. Augustine’s, our geography curriculum is designed to inspire curiosity about the world and equip pupils with a deep understanding of the Earth’s physical and human features.

Through engaging and purposeful lessons, pupils:

• Develop knowledge of important places across the world—on land and at sea—including their key physical and human characteristics, helping them make sense of the world around them.
• Learn about the natural and human processes that shape our planet, how these are connected, and how they cause changes over time and across different regions.
• Gain valuable geographical skills such as:
  • Collecting, analysing and presenting data from fieldwork activities.
  • Using maps, atlases, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and digital mapping tools (GIS).
  • Communicating their learning in a range of ways, including through maps, charts, and extended writing.

To further enrich our teaching, we use the Boost learning platform, which provides high-quality, interactive resources that support every stage of learning from Year 1 to Year 6. Boost helps ensure:

• Consistent and engaging lessons aligned with the national curriculum.
• Interactive digital tools that bring geography to life and help track pupil progress.
• Strong support for fieldwork, enquiry-based learning, and key skills development.
• Opportunities for retrieval practice and deeper learning through structured, easy-to-use materials.

Our aim is for every pupil to leave St. Augustine’s with a strong understanding of the world, the ability to think like a geographer, and the skills to communicate their ideas clearly and confidently.

Intent

Our aim is for every child to:

• Build a strong understanding of local, national and global geography, including key physical and human features.
• Develop a sense of place and scale, exploring how environments vary across the world and how people interact with them.
• Understand important geographical processes and how they bring about change over time.
• Ask questions, make comparisons, interpret evidence, and express their ideas clearly using accurate vocabulary.

Pupils are taught to connect their learning to real-world issues, such as sustainability, climate change, and the impact of human activity on the environment.

Implementation

We use the Boost Geography programme to ensure consistent and progressive learning throughout the school. The scheme includes:

• Structured, knowledge-rich units covering topics such as weather, settlements, rivers, climate, biomes, and global trade.
• Step-by-step teaching resources, including interactive slides, fieldwork guidance, maps, photographs, and videos.
• A focus on key skills, including:
  • Using and creating maps
  • Interpreting aerial photos and satellite images
  • Conducting fieldwork and recording findings
  • Understanding compass directions and grid references
• Regular retrieval and review, including quizzes and vocabulary practice to strengthen memory and understanding.
• Built-in assessments and tracking tools, helping teachers identify gaps and support all learners effectively.

Each year group builds on what came before, with clear links between topics to help pupils connect ideas and deepen their understanding of the world around them.

Implementation in Practice – Examples

• Year 1: Children explore their local area, create simple maps, and learn about the UK’s countries and capitals.
• Year 2: Pupils study hot and cold places, the world’s continents and oceans, and how food is grown and transported.
• Year 3: They investigate climate zones, settlements, and land use, using maps and fieldwork to explore local examples.
• Year 4: Children study rivers and water cycles, linking geographical processes to real landscapes.
• Year 5: Pupils learn about biomes, global trade, and environmental change, developing their understanding of human impact.
• Year 6: They explore world geography through migration, natural disasters, and sustainability, connecting global issues with local responses.

Impact

We regularly assess children’s understanding through:

• Discussions, quizzes, map work, and practical tasks
• Retrieval activities to reinforce key knowledge
• Written outcomes and presentations that show pupils can apply what they’ve learned

By the end of Year 6, our pupils can:

• Use geographical vocabulary accurately and confidently
• Read and interpret different types of maps
• Explain physical and human geographical processes
• Ask and answer geographical questions based on evidence
• Make links between local, national and global issues
• Reflect on their role as global citizens and stewards of the environment

Geography and History Curriculum Map