Geography
At Prendergast Primary School, geography helps children understand their place in the world and how people, environments and communities are connected. Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and fully aligned with the National Curriculum. It is carefully sequenced so that knowledge and skills build year on year, from exploring our local streets in Key Stage 1 to investigating global challenges such as migration, sustainability and climate change in Year 6. We want every child to become a curious, confident geographer who can ask questions, use evidence and think critically about the world around them.
Our geography curriculum develops progressively across the school. In Years 1 and 2, children begin with their immediate environment, using local walks, simple maps and orienteering to explore Lewisham, and comparing the UK with places such as Ghana, the rainforests and the polar regions. In Years 3 and 4, pupils broaden their horizons by studying Europe (Spain), South America (Brazil) and India, while deepening their understanding of rivers, mountains, coasts and environmental change through fieldwork along the River Thames and local environmental studies. In Years 5 and 6, learning becomes more analytical, with a focus on global interdependence, trade, sustainability, migration and climate change, alongside advanced mapping and enquiry skills, including comparative studies of Australia, China and North America.
Learning is brought to life through meaningful experiences and high-quality fieldwork. These include local area mapping in Lewisham, and a range of Geography-focused trips including a River Thames walk, trips to the Museum of London and the Migration Museum, residential trips, environmental workshops, river walks and visits to the British Museum and Horniman Museum to support studies of global cultures and environments. Children also use atlases, digital maps and data to investigate real-world issues and are encouraged to make connections between what they learn in geography and other subjects such as Science, History and PSHE. Our curriculum reflects the diversity of our community and ensures that a wide range of cultures, perspectives and places are represented.
We know our geography curriculum is effective because pupils can explain key geographical concepts, use subject-specific vocabulary accurately and apply their knowledge to new contexts. Assessment is ongoing and includes retrieval practice, low-stakes quizzes, pupil discussions and end-of-unit outcomes, enabling teachers to adapt teaching and support all learners. By the time children leave Prendergast Primary School, they are geographically literate, environmentally aware and well prepared for the next stage of their education.
