Geography
Intent
Intent
At Bearbrook, we welcome every pupil with open arms, ready for an exciting learning journey. Our Geography curriculum opens young minds to endless opportunities, encouraging pupils to explore, discover, and understand the world around them. As they grow in confidence, sometimes holding on tight and sometimes letting go, we are always there to guide, support, and empower.
Using the Kapow Primary Geography scheme, our curriculum inspires pupils to think like geographers—curious, analytical, and observant. They are encouraged to question, investigate, record and analyse data, and present their findings confidently. The scheme helps pupils understand how Geography shapes lives at local, national, and global levels, across time.
Aligned with the National Curriculum, our Geography teaching also reflects Bearbrook’s core values of empowerment, respect, integrity, trust, and nurture. We empower pupils to develop geographical knowledge and fieldwork skills across all year groups. They learn to ask perceptive questions and examine evidence critically, growing in independence and integrity. Through exploring their own locality and comparing it with other places, they build respect for diverse environments and cultures. Trust is fostered through collaborative learning and enquiry-based tasks, while our nurturing approach supports every learner’s journey.
For Early Years, Geography activities are rooted in the Understanding the World development statements and Early Learning Goals, laying essential foundations for Key Stage 1 learning.
Overall, our Geography curriculum equips pupils with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to become resourceful, active citizens who contribute positively to their world—today and in the future.
Implementation
Implementation
At Bearbrook, our Geography curriculum—delivered through the Kapow Primary scheme—follows the National Curriculum’s four strands: Locational knowledge, Place knowledge, Human and physical geography, and Geographical skills and fieldwork. Skills and knowledge progress clearly across each year group, ensuring that pupils meet end-of-key-stage expectations. Key geographical concepts are embedded throughout all units and revisited regularly to deepen understanding.
The scheme follows a spiral curriculum, with core knowledge and skills revisited with increasing complexity. Locational knowledge is reinforced in every unit to support children’s grasp of scale and place. In EYFS, adult-led and child-initiated activities align with Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals, laying strong foundations for Key Stage 1.
Geographical enquiry questions underpin all Key Stage 1 and 2 units, encouraging purposeful learning. These open-ended questions help children collect, interpret, and present data using geographical methods while applying knowledge to make informed decisions.
Fieldwork is a key element in every unit, introduced through an enquiry cycle: question, observe, measure, record, and present. Activities range from school-based investigations to local visits, making fieldwork accessible and relevant. Revisiting fieldwork methods builds confidence and a deeper understanding of their locality.
Cross-curricular links throughout the scheme enable pupils to apply Geography in wider contexts. A variety of teaching strategies—independent, paired, group, digital, and practical tasks—ensure accessibility for all learning styles. Each lesson includes guidance on adapting content for all learners and offers stretch opportunities.
Knowledge organisers support pupils in recalling key facts and vocabulary. To ensure high-quality teaching, every unit includes teacher videos to build subject knowledge and confidence, supporting effective professional development and consistency in delivery.
Our approach ensures that pupils develop geographical understanding with curiosity, independence, and purpose.
Assessment
Assessment
At Bearbrook, we use ongoing and end-of-unit assessment to monitor pupils’ progress in Geography. Teachers assess children at the end of each unit using a simple tick sheet, which records whether pupils are working towards, at expected, or secure against each learning objective.
These assessment sheets provide a clear picture of each child’s understanding and help quickly identify any gaps in knowledge or emerging trends across the class. This allows teachers to adapt their teaching, revisit key concepts, and provide targeted support to ensure every pupil is making strong progress.
Our assessment approach is designed to be efficient and meaningful, supporting both teaching and learning while ensuring pupils develop a secure understanding of geographical knowledge, skills, and concepts.