At Rydon Primary School, the Geography curriculum is designed to spark curiosity about the world and help children understand the places, people and environments around them. The curriculum is sequenced so that knowledge and skills build gradually over time, allowing children to deepen their understanding of the world as they move through the school.

Children learn about a wide range of places, from their local area to countries and environments around the world. They explore both human and physical geography, including weather and climate, rivers, settlements, ecosystems, natural disasters, sustainability and how people interact with the environment. Map work and fieldwork play an important role, giving children practical experience in using maps, compasses, photographs, digital tools and geographical data.

Through regular fieldwork, pupils investigate their surroundings, collect information and draw conclusions like real geographers. They develop confidence in asking questions, observing patterns and thinking about how environments change over time. Throughout the curriculum, children also learn about cultural diversity and the different ways people live across the world, helping them become thoughtful, respectful and responsible global citizens.

As children progress, they revisit key concepts—such as place, scale, human and physical processes and environmental impact—increasing the depth and complexity of their learning. They learn to compare locations, understand cause-and-effect within the natural world and consider how decisions and actions can shape the future of our planet.

By the time they leave our school, pupils are confident using maps, interpreting data and applying geographical vocabulary. They have a strong understanding of the world, an awareness of global challenges and the curiosity and critical thinking needed to continue exploring the world around them.