Geography at Oldfield
The Geography Curriculum at Oldfield follows the National Curriculum, aims to inspire curiosity, fascination, and understanding about the world and its people. It equips pupils with knowledge of places, people, resources, environments, and physical and human processes, while developing geographical skills such as map reading, observation, and fieldwork.
Aims of the Geography Curriculum
The curriculum aims to ensure pupils:
Develop knowledge of globally significant places, including the UK, Europe, and the wider world.
Understand physical and human geography, including key processes such as weather, climate, and human activity.
Develop skills in geographical enquiry, observation, and fieldwork.
Interpret a variety of sources of information, such as maps, globes, aerial photographs, and digital tools.
Key Stage 1 (Ages 5-7)
In Key Stage 1, pupils begin to develop a sense of place and location. They:
Learn about their local area, the UK, and contrasting areas of the world.
Use basic geographical vocabulary to describe physical features (e.g., beach, forest, hill) and human features (e.g., city, village, farm).
Identify seasonal and daily weather patterns in the UK and compare them with other parts of the world.
Use and create simple maps and develop an understanding of directions (e.g., North, South, East, West).
Use fieldwork to observe, record, and describe their surroundings.
Example activities include exploring their school grounds, identifying local landmarks, or studying weather patterns.
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7-11)
In Key Stage 2, pupils deepen their understanding of the wider world and geographical processes. They:
Extend their knowledge of the UK, Europe, and the Americas, including key cities, countries, and environmental regions.
Explore physical geography, including rivers, mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes, weather, and climate zones.
Study human geography, including settlements, land use, trade, and the distribution of resources.
Develop map skills, using atlases, globes, digital mapping tools, and grid references.
Carry out fieldwork, collecting, analysing, and presenting data about the local and wider environment.
Example activities include studying rivers and their features, comparing a region in the UK with one in South America, or using maps to plan and conduct local fieldwork.
Progression and Integration
The curriculum is designed to build geographical knowledge and skills progressively, encouraging pupils to explore local, national, and global issues. Geography often links with other subjects such as history (studying places over time), science (climate and ecosystems), and maths (data collection and analysis).
By the end of primary school, pupils develop a strong understanding of the world’s diversity, physical processes, and human interactions, enabling them to think critically about global challenges such as sustainability, climate change, and resource management