Geography
At Graven Hill Primary and Preschool, we believe that a high‑quality geography education should inspire children’s curiosity about the world, its people and the environments in which we live. Geography helps pupils to make sense of the places they see every day, while also developing an awareness of the wider world and their role within it.
Our geography curriculum is designed to nurture a sense of wonder, respect and responsibility for the Earth. Through exploring places, environments and communities — both near and far — children develop the knowledge, skills and vocabulary needed to understand how the world works and how it is changing.
Geography has strong links with science, history, mathematics and personal, social and environmental education. It encourages children to observe, question, investigate and reflect, helping them to make meaningful connections between their learning and the real world.
Our Geography Curriculum
The core of our geography curriculum is place, space and enquiry. Children are taught to develop a secure understanding of:
- The physical and human features of places
- Similarities and differences between environments
- How people interact with and shape their surroundings
- How environments can change over time
As pupils progress, they deepen their understanding of key geographical concepts such as location, scale, environment, sustainability and change. Learning is carefully sequenced so that knowledge is revisited and built upon, enabling children to make connections across topics and year groups.
Geographical Knowledge and Skills
Alongside developing knowledge, pupils are taught the essential skills that geographers use to explore and understand the world. These include:
- Using maps, globes and aerial photographs
- Developing positional and directional language
- Conducting simple fieldwork and observations
- Collecting, recording and interpreting geographical information
Children learn to ask geographical questions, investigate their surroundings and communicate their findings using appropriate language and simple data representations.
Learning From the Local Area to the Wider World
We place great value on learning that starts with what children know best. Our local context — including Graven Hill, Bicester and the surrounding area — provides rich opportunities for first‑hand geographical learning through walks, observations and simple fieldwork.
From this strong local foundation, pupils gradually extend their understanding to contrasting places within the UK and beyond. This approach helps children develop a clear sense of place, scale and diversity, while fostering respect for different communities and ways of life.
Sustainability and Care for the Planet
An important strand of our geography curriculum is developing children’s understanding of environmental responsibility. Pupils learn about natural environments, resources and the impact of human activity in age‑appropriate ways.
Through geography, children begin to explore how they can care for their local environment and understand the importance of sustainability, laying the foundations for thoughtful and responsible citizenship.
Preparing Children for the Future
Our geography curriculum ensures that children leave Graven Hill with:
- A secure understanding of places and environments
- Curiosity about the world and how it works
- Strong observational, enquiry and communication skills
- An appreciation of diversity and interconnection
- An early understanding of environmental responsibility
By combining knowledge, skills and real‑world experiences, our geography curriculum supports children in becoming informed, curious and thoughtful learners — ready to engage with the world around them now and in the future.