Geography

Subject Lead: Miss E Chesworth

At Leasowes, we believe that every child is a geographer. Our rich, inclusive, and progressive Geography curriculum reflects this belief, fostering a strong sense of place alongside essential geographical knowledge and skills. We aim to nurture empathy and global understanding by encouraging children to explore the cultural and social qualities of communities across the world.

‘Geography is about empathy, understanding others and our world. That is the joy of Geography.’ Tom Brassington

Our curriculum is designed to spark lifelong curiosity about the world and its people. Through a carefully planned and ambitious approach, children develop a deep understanding of both physical and human processes while appreciating the diversity of global cultures. This equips them to become environmentally and culturally aware citizens who understand the importance of protecting today to preserve tomorrow.

Rooted in the National Curriculum, our Geography provision ensures that children become confident, skilled geographers who:

• Are curious about the diverse world in which we live and show fascination towards the study of its people.
• Understand the key processes linked to the world’s physical and human geographical features.
• Can use a range of resources to locate key places around the world.
• Draw on their geographical skills to conduct their own fieldwork investigations.

Geography is a foundation subject of the National Curriculum, taught through a knowledge- and skills-based approach. It is organised into four distinct areas, enabling pupils to develop a broad understanding of the subject, build key vocabulary, and deepen their geographical knowledge:

Our unique ‘Zoom Out’ model enables pupils to progressively expand their understanding from their immediate environment to the wider world. Carefully designed links across year groups—vertical, diagonal, and horizontal—ensure learning is coherent, connected, and built on firm foundations. This is supported by detailed planning, progression maps, and knowledge organisers.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children begin their geographical journey by exploring their most familiar places—home, school, and the local area. They describe their surroundings through observation, discussion, stories, and simple maps, and begin developing early fieldwork skills by mapping their route from the main school gate to their classroom. Using tools like Google Maps and a class globe, they start to recognise the UK and other countries, learning to identify land, sea, and environmental features. Through comparisons between Stafford and places like the Amazon Rainforest or Antarctica, they explore global diversity and environmental issues such as deforestation and global warming, laying the groundwork for geographical thinking.

We are proud to have achieved the Gold Primary Geography Quality Mark, recognising our use of inclusive, multisensory approaches to make complex concepts accessible to all learners. High-quality, purposeful fieldwork is embedded across all year groups, from local area studies in Year 1 to orienteering on Cannock Chase in Year 5. These real-world experiences deepen understanding and foster a genuine connection with the world around us. Additionally, our Life Beyond Leasowes assemblies provide regular opportunities for children to explore current geographical issues, promoting thoughtful discussion and global awareness.