At Tewin Cowper, we believe that Geography helps children make sense of the world and their place within it. Inspired by our mustard seed vision, we nurture pupils’ natural curiosity about places and environments so that small questions grow into confident understanding, informed thinking and global awareness. 

What we want children to learn

We use Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme as the basis for our teaching. Our curriculum is ambitious and inclusive, designed to encourage pupils to explore, question and understand the world around them. 

We aim for pupils to: 

• Develop secure geographical knowledge and skills 

• Ask perceptive questions and think critically about places and environments 

• Observe, measure, record and present information using a range of geographical methods 

• Build strong fieldwork skills across each year group 

• Develop a deep understanding of their local area and how it compares to other places in the world 

• Use and understand geographical vocabulary with confidence 

Through our Geography curriculum, pupils develop the knowledge and understanding needed to become informed, responsible global citizens. The curriculum is fully aligned with the National Curriculum, and in EYFS supports children in meeting the Understanding the World Early Learning Goals. 

How learning happens

Geography is taught through the Kapow Primary Geography scheme, which provides a well-sequenced and progressive curriculum from EYFS to Year 6. Each unit is built around an open-ended enquiry question, giving learning a clear purpose and encouraging curiosity and investigation. 

Pupils follow an enquiry cycle that reflects the National Curriculum approach to fieldwork: 

• Question 

• Observe 

• Measure 

• Record 

• Present 

Fieldwork is embedded across all year groups to ensure that pupils regularly practise and develop their geographical skills in real and meaningful contexts. 

Learning is underpinned by the development of nine core geographical concepts: 

• Place 

• Space 

• Scale 

• Interdependence 

• Physical and human processes 

• Environmental impact 

• Sustainable development 

• Cultural awareness 

• Cultural diversity 

Where appropriate, meaningful cross-curricular links are made with other subjects to deepen understanding and support knowledge retention. Learning is further enriched through educational visits, workshops and opportunities to explore the local area. 

What children achieve

Ongoing formative assessment and regular opportunities for reflection allow teachers to monitor progress, identify gaps and ensure all pupils achieve well. Pupils are encouraged to explain their thinking, use subject-specific vocabulary and present their learning in a range of ways. 

By the end of their primary education, pupils will: 

• Compare and contrast human and physical features of places in the UK, Europe and the Americas 

• Understand key physical processes, including climate, biomes, rivers, natural disasters and the water cycle 

• Explain how humans use land and resources for economic and trade purposes 

• Understand the relationship between human activity and the environment, including positive and negative impacts 

• Use maps, globes, atlases and digital mapping to develop a secure sense of place and location 

• Apply skills such as compass points, grid references, symbols and keys 

• Understand global positioning, including latitude, longitude, hemispheres, tropics and time zones 

• Plan, carry out and present geographical enquiries using appropriate data and digital technologies 

• Meet the Early Learning Goals in EYFS and the end of key stage expectations in the National Curriculum for Geography 

As a result, pupils leave Tewin Cowper believing in their ability to ask questions, growing in geographical understanding and curiosity, and succeeding as informed, thoughtful citizens of the world.