Geography
Geography at Ickworth Park Primary School
At Ickworth Park Primary School, our Geography curriculum is designed to be ambitious, engaging and accessible for all pupils, building progressively on knowledge and skills from the Early Years to Year 6.
Our Intent
At Ickworth Park Primary School, our geography curriculum is designed to develop pupils’ understanding of the world, their place within it, and the relationship between people and environments.
We aim to foster curiosity about the world whilst building secure knowledge of physical and human geography.
Our Approach
We use Kapow Primary as a foundation for our geography curriculum, ensuring clear progression in knowledge and skills.
Teachers adapt this to ensure learning reflects the needs, interests and context of our pupils at Ickworth Park. Pupils build secure geographical knowledge over time and are able to explain how places change and why.
Learning focuses on:
- Developing geographical vocabulary
- Understanding key concepts such as place, space and scale
- Building knowledge of the UK and the wider world
Progression
Learning in geography begins in the Early Years, where children explore their immediate environment and develop an understanding of place.
- In EYFS, children take part in walks in the local area, collecting natural materials and creating child-led ‘messy maps’ using the items they find.
- Using Bee-Bots to journey along maps they have made.
- They also begin to understand location and purpose through real-life experiences, such as posting a letter to Father Christmas at the local postbox.
As pupils move through the school, this understanding develops further:
- In Year 3, pupils begin to explore how our local area has changed over time, including thinking about developments and changes in landscapes and human activity.
- By Year 6, pupils apply their knowledge by creating their own maps of the local area from memory, showing understanding of OS map features and geographical knowledge
Throughout their time at Ickworth Park, pupils revisit and deepen their understanding, building knowledge progressively over time.
Inclusion
All pupils are supported to access the geography curriculum.
- Learning is adapted through scaffolding, clear vocabulary and practical experiences
- Pupils may use resources such as iPads and reading pens to support access to learning
- Teaching ensures that pupils with SEND can engage fully alongside their peers
Local Context and Enrichment
Our strong links with Ickworth Estate provide valuable opportunities for pupils to apply geographical skills in a real-world context.
Pupils use the local environment to:
- Develop map skills
- Explore land use and physical features
- Carry out fieldwork and enquiry-based learning
We also promote environmental responsibility through practical experiences:
- In Year 1, pupils consider how we can look after a garden as they learn about the weather in the UK.
- In Year 4, pupils use litter pickers to help care for and maintain their immediate environment and they take part in fieldwork activities looking at the health of the river system in the Ickworth Estate.
- In Year 5, pupils visit Felixstowe beach, where they carry out a litter-picking activity and learn about pollution and its impact on the oceans.
- In Year 6, pupils consider where our energy comes from and map the school to find suitable locations for solar panels.
These experiences help pupils develop a deeper understanding of geography and their role in protecting the environment.
Impact
Pupils are able to apply their knowledge to real-world situations and explain their understanding using geographical vocabulary.
Pupils develop:
- A strong understanding of the world around them
- The ability to use geographical vocabulary with confidence
- Curiosity about global issues and environmental responsibility
They leave Ickworth Park as confident, informed and responsible learners with a strong sense of place.