Geography in primary schools is all about helping children make sense of the world – from their own street to distant continents. The primary geography national curriculum for England gives a clear structure for what children should know, understand and be able to do by the end of Key Stage 2.
In this blog post, we break down the expectations of the primary geography curriculum, exploring the key themes, skills and knowledge that need to be covered in Years 1–6.
Aims of the primary geography curriculum
According to the primary geography national curriculum, teaching should inspire children with a curiosity about the world and its people. Geography should enable children to:
- develop knowledge of globally significant places (both terrestrial and marine)
- understand the physical and human processes that shape environments
- gain competence in essential geographical skills
- collect, interpret and communicate geographical information from a range of sources
What has to be covered?
Key Stage 1 (Ages 5–7)
Children begin by learning about:
- their local environment – their school, homes, routes, town or village
- simple fieldwork and observational skills
- basic geographical vocabulary: beach, cliff, city, forest, river, weather
- the four countries of the UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- world geography: the seven continents and five oceans
Key Stage 2 (Ages 7–11)
The primary geography national curriculum sets out a broader and deeper range of learning:
Locational knowledge
- Names and locations of continents, oceans, major rivers and mountain ranges.
- Positioning and significance of the Equator, Northern and Southern Hemispheres, Tropics, Arctic and Antarctic.
Place knowledge
- Comparison of a region of the UK with a region in Europe and a region outside Europe (e.g. UK vs Italy vs Brazil).
Human and physical geography
- Volcanoes, earthquakes, climate zones, biomes, rivers, mountains, land use, settlements and trade.
Geographical skills and fieldwork
- Using maps, atlases, globes and digital mapping.
- Four- and six-figure grid references.
- Compasses, symbols and keys.
- Collecting and analysing data through fieldwork.
Skills children should develop
To meet the expectations of the primary geography national curriculum, you must equip your children with:
- map skills and spatial awareness
- ability to interpret a range of maps, photos and diagrams
- use of geographical language, symbols and grid references
- curiosity about environments and the impact of human activity
- an understanding of sustainability and global citizenship
Tips for outstanding primary geography teaching
- Plan fieldwork opportunities, even within the school grounds.
- Use globes, maps and Google Earth regularly.
- Link geography with history, science and current news.
- Encourage children to observe, question and record their findings.
- Celebrate global diversity with case studies from around the world.
Final thoughts
A strong primary geography national curriculum not only equips children with knowledge of places and environments, but also develops their appreciation of the planet and the role humans play in shaping it. Teaching geography with creativity, real-world links and active enquiry will ensure children become thoughtful, informed learners ready to explore their world.
Get high-quality lessons and resources
Looking for inspiring lessons and resources to bring your Key Stage 2 geography curriculum to life? Creating your own can be time-consuming and requires in-depth knowledge of the subject. Then there’s the question of how you find the best quality supporting resources that let your children get the most out of their learning experience.
The Cornerstones Curriculum offers everything you need – a carefully sequenced collection of projects designed by subject experts backed by high-quality resources to support teachers at every level of subject knowledge and confidence. Housed on Maestro, our online platform, which will allow you to plan, manage, lead and assess your geography curriculum all in one place.