At Clandon, geography helps children make sense of the world around them – from their immediate local environment to places and landscapes across the globe.  Our geography curriculum is carefully sequenced from Early Years to Year Six so that children build a secure understanding of place, space and the natural world, developing the knowledge and skills they need to become curious, thoughtful geographers.

Children begin by learning about their own locality, the seasons and the weather, noticing changes over time and talking about the places they visit.  As they move through the school, pupils explore the physical and human features of their local area, the United Kingdom and the wider world, including rivers, rainforests, volcanoes, biomes and different climate zones.  They learn how environments shape the lives of people and animals, and how human activity can impact the world around us.

Fieldwork and outdoor learning are an important part of geography at Clandon.  Through Forest School, children develop practical geographical skills such as observing their environment, using simple maps, following routes, and learning early map skills such as symbols, keys and directional language.  As children grow older, these skills develop into more formal map work, including using compasses, grid references, aerial photographs and Ordnance Survey maps to locate and interpret places.  Learning geography in a real outdoor context helps children to connect classroom learning with the world they can see, touch and explore.

Across the school, children are taught to ask geographical questions, make careful observations, collect and present information, and compare places and environments.  They learn to use appropriate geographical vocabulary and develop an understanding of patterns, change and connection across the world.

By the time they leave Clandon, pupils have a strong sense of place, a growing understanding of the physical and human geography of our world, and the confidence to use maps, atlases and fieldwork skills.  Most importantly, they leave with a curiosity about the world and a respect for the environments and communities within it – both locally and globally.