Intent

At St. Mary’s, our Geography curriculum aims to develop children’s curiosity about the world, helping them to become knowledgeable, responsible global citizens. Through carefully sequenced lessons, pupils gain a deep understanding of places, people, environments, and processes, both locally and globally.

Implementation

We follow the Opening Worlds Humanities programme, which provides a carefully structured and knowledge-rich curriculum in Geography from Year 3 to Year 6. It includes:

• Systematic teaching of geographical vocabulary and concepts
• Regular opportunities to revisit and deepen prior learning
• Emphasis on oral rehearsal, reading, and extended writing, supporting literacy across the curriculum

In Key Stage 1, Geography is taught using custom units tailored to our local context, ensuring strong foundations in place knowledge and geographical skills. 

Impact

• Pupils build a strong, secure understanding of both physical and human geography
• Learning is retained over time through carefully planned retrieval
• Pupils are equipped with the knowledge to understand current global issues and contribute to discussions about the future of our planet

📄 Planning & Progression

We use the Opening Worlds Skills Progression and Planning Framework to ensure knowledge and skills build year-on-year.

👉 View the Opening Worlds Geography Progression Documents