Rack House Primary School

At Rack House, our Geography curriculum is carefully sequenced to build secure locational knowledge, geographical understanding, and critical thinking skills. Pupils engage with key geographical concepts such as place, scale, environment, diversity, and interdependence, which are revisited and deepened through a variety of stimulating and inclusive units.

Each unit is shaped by a central geographical enquiry question that encourages pupils to investigate the world around them, ask meaningful questions, and reflect on the significance of geographical processes and patterns. Lessons follow a consistent structure that supports progression: starting with a geographical hook or big question, pupils explore case studies from a diverse range of places—both local and global, physical and human. This is followed by active investigation, where pupils develop fieldwork skills, analyse maps, data, and photographs, and use geographical vocabulary to describe and explain what they observe. Through discussion, collaboration, and problem-solving, pupils build a strong sense of place and develop informed opinions about real-world issues such as sustainability, climate change, urbanisation, and migration.

A key highlight of our curriculum is the annual Fieldwork Day, held each summer term for every year group. These hands-on experiences are carefully planned to reflect the geographical themes studied throughout the year. From exploring local parks and rivers to conducting traffic surveys or mapping land use in the school’s surrounding area, pupils apply their skills in real-world contexts. These days foster observation, enquiry, and data collection skills, while encouraging pupils to think like geographers in the field. Fieldwork also helps pupils make meaningful connections between classroom learning and the environments they live in.

Pupils are encouraged to make meaningful connections between their learning and their own lives, understanding how geography helps explain the patterns and challenges shaping their communities and the wider world. Chronological and thematic links support pupils in making sense of how places and environments change over time, and key ideas such as human impact, resilience, adaptation, and stewardship are regularly revisited and applied across different contexts.
The curriculum is enriched with local studies, field visits, and interactive projects where pupils can apply their learning in authentic settings. Assessment is ongoing and focuses on how well pupils can use geographical knowledge and skills to explore, explain, and evaluate their understanding of the world over time.

By the time they leave us, pupils will:

• Use subject-specific vocabulary with accuracy and confidence to describe geographical processes, patterns, and features.
• Recognise how people, places, and environments are interconnected and how these relationships change over time and space.
• Develop curiosity and critical thinking by asking geographical questions, analysing information, and forming well-reasoned conclusions.
• Acquire a wide range of geographical skills, including map reading, fieldwork techniques, data collection, and interpretation.
• Locate key countries and their capital cities on a world map, developing a strong sense of global place and spatial awareness.
• Build confidence in their ability to explore, discuss, and evaluate geographical issues independently and thoughtfully.

The impact of our Geography curriculum is evidenced through:

• Pupil Engagement: High levels of enthusiasm for the subject are demonstrated through active participation in discussions, investigations, and fieldwork. This is supported by pupil voice, geography books, enquiry-led learning, and involvement in fieldwork days and local studies.
• Critical and Analytical Thinking: Pupils confidently ask questions, interpret geographical data, and make connections between human and physical geography. They reflect on their findings and consider multiple perspectives on global and local issues.
• Skill Development and Progress: Pupils make strong progress in geographical knowledge and fieldwork skills, shown through high-quality written work, map skills, and geographical enquiry tasks. Their outcomes reflect the high expectations set at Rack House.
• Global and Local Awareness: Pupils develop a deep understanding of diverse places, cultures, and environmental challenges. They demonstrate respect for different ways of life and are aware of their roles as informed, responsible global citizens.