At Gedney Church End Primary Academy, we believe that Geography helps children to understand the world around them and their place within it. Our curriculum inspires curiosity about people, places and environments, helping children to recognise how the world is connected and how natural processes and human activity shape the places in which we live.

Geographical learning begins in EYFS, where children develop their understanding of the world through first-hand experiences, observation, discussion and exploration of their surroundings. They begin to notice seasonal and environmental change, explore different places and communities, and recognise similarities and differences between their own experiences and those of others. These early experiences provide important foundations for the geographical learning that follows throughout Key Stages 1 and 2. 

Our Geography curriculum is carefully planned so that children's knowledge builds, connects and deepens over time. Children develop their understanding of locations and places, physical and human features, environments and geographical processes while learning increasingly precise geographical vocabulary. Important knowledge and concepts are revisited so that children can draw upon what they already know when encountering new places, environments and geographical ideas.

Children begin by developing a secure sense of place and location, including an understanding of their local area and its relationship with the wider world. As they progress through the academy, their geographical horizons broaden. Children explore contrasting places and environments, including rainforests and polar regions, before developing their understanding of physical and human geography through areas such as climate, volcanoes and earthquakes, mountains, rivers, extreme environments and human impact on our planet. 

Geographical enquiry is an important part of our curriculum. We want children to do more than remember facts about different places. They are encouraged to ask geographical questions, investigate patterns and processes, use maps and other sources of information, make comparisons and use evidence to explain what they discover. As children move through the academy, they increasingly draw upon their geographical knowledge to understand and explain how and why places are different, interconnected and changing.

Our curriculum also develops children's understanding of the important relationship between people and the environment. From considering how we care for the natural world in EYFS and exploring human impact on rainforests, children progressively encounter environmental change, sustainability and the ways in which people's choices affect places and environments. By UKS2, children consider climate, extreme environments and human impact on our planet, as well as investigating how rivers and mountains shape natural and human environments. 

Where meaningful, Geography connects with other areas of learning, particularly Science, History and PSHE. These connections enable children to apply and deepen their knowledge when considering issues such as climate, sustainability, biodiversity and the relationship between people and their environment, while maintaining a clear focus on Geography as a subject.

Our SPARK values are reflected throughout Geography. Children develop Self-belief as they ask questions and communicate their ideas, Perseverance as they investigate challenging geographical ideas, and Aspiration as they discover places and possibilities beyond their immediate experiences. Respect and Kindness help children to appreciate different people, communities, cultures and environments and to recognise their own responsibilities towards the world around them.

Ultimately, we want children to leave Gedney Church End as curious, knowledgeable and responsible geographers. We want them to understand significant places, environments and processes, make connections between their learning and use geographical enquiry to investigate, compare and explain. Most importantly, we want children to recognise that people, places and environments are interconnected and that the choices we make can influence the world around us.