The rationale for our Geography Curriculum draws upon inspiration from the Geographical Association and also references Ofsted's Research Review Series: Geography.  We use Kapow as our curriculum scheme. 

Curriculum Aims

 ' Thinking Geographically offers a uniquely powerful way of seeing the world.'

Geographical Association.

Kapow Primary’s Geography scheme of work aims to inspire pupils to become curious and explorative thinkers with a diverse knowledge of the world – in other words, to think like geographers. The intention is for pupils to develop the confidence to question and observe places, measure and record necessary data in a variety of ways and analyse and present their findings.

The scheme aims to build an awareness of how Geography shapes lives at multiple scales and over time. The hope is to encourage pupils to become resourceful, active citizens who will have the skills to contribute to and improve the world around them.

The scheme supports teachers in developing their subject knowledge and skills, enabling the delivery of engaging, well-informed lessons with confidence. The curriculum is designed to be both accessible and ambitious, ensuring all learners’ full participation and potential achievement.

Spiral Curriculum

The Kapow Primary Geography scheme of work has been designed as a spiral curriculum with the following key principles in mind:

• Cyclical – pupils return to the key knowledge and skills again and again during their time in primary school.
• Increasing depth – each time a skill is revisited, it is covered with greater complexity.
• Prior knowledge – prior knowledge is utilised so pupils can build upon previous foundations rather than starting again.

This approach reinforces knowledge and skills and supports long-term retention and progression. It allows pupils to make links between different topics, draw on their prior learning and apply it flexibly to new and increasingly complex situations.

As a result, pupils are equipped to think like geographers: making connections, asking meaningful questions and drawing on a rich base of knowledge to understand the world around them.

Adaptive Teaching

The Kapow Primary Geography scheme of work is designed to be fully adaptable for pupils with SEND. Every lesson includes an adaptive teaching section, providing clear guidance on how activities can be modified to meet the needs of all learners.

Children learn in a variety of ways. As such, Kapow Primary geography lessons include a range of strategies to support and challenge every pupil, such as:

Scaffolding – activities are designed with flexibility in mind, allowing for additional support or challenge where needed.

Multi-sensory approaches – lessons incorporate different elements to engage all learners.

Clear instructions and structured tasks – ensuring clarity and reducing cognitive load for pupils who benefit from additional support.

Opportunities for collaborative and independent learning – allowing pupils to work at their own pace while building confidence and independence.

By embedding adaptive teaching throughout, the scheme ensures that all pupils, regardless of their starting points, can access and succeed in their learning.

In addition, the step-by-step curriculum design supports pupils with SEND, avoiding sudden jumps in complexity at transition points and allowing for steady, manageable progression.

Impact

Formative

Kapow Primary Geography lessons include ongoing assessment opportunities, such as questioning, retrieval practice and interactive activities. These enable teachers to assess understanding in real time and adapt their teaching accordingly.

Summative

Each unit provides an Assessment quiz and Knowledge catcher, which allow teachers to measure pupils’ understanding at key points. These tools help gauge how well pupils have retained key knowledge and skills over time.