Geography is a powerful exploration of our world—uncovering where places are, what makes them unique and how people and environments are deeply connected.

At Steephill, we aim for every pupil to become an inquisitive geographer who understands the physical and human processes shaping our world—beginning with a deep connection to their own locality in Longfield. By Year 6, children will confidently investigate the rolling North Downs, map the flow of the River Darent, explore how transport links (M2, A2, rail) have shaped settlement and compare their home community to contrasting places globally.

From pre-school, we expose pupils to a wide range of texts and experiences that spark curiosity about the world around them. Geography is woven into the provision through carefully chosen core texts, storytelling and hands-on exploration, ensuring children begin to develop a sense of place, environment and global awareness from the very start of their learning journey.

As children move into Key Stage 1, this early exposure develops into a more structured approach through our geography curriculum. Lessons build on their growing curiosity, introducing them to key geographical concepts through a carefully sequenced programme that expands their understanding from local surroundings to national and global contexts.

Key vocabulary is explicitly taught and regularly reinforced through low-stakes quizzes and mapped fieldwork around the school grounds. Each unit is framed by enquiry questions, practical investigations, and real-world case studies that strengthen fieldwork skills and deepen pupils’ understanding of the complex relationship between people and places.

As a result, pupils leave Steephill with a strong sense of place, both locally and globally. They can confidently use geographical vocabulary, apply fieldwork skills and think critically about the relationship between people and environments. By the end of Year 6, children are well-prepared for the next stage of their education, equipped with the knowledge, curiosity and skills to explore and understand the world around them.