Our geography curriculum develops children who understand their world, care for their environment and feel confident exploring the places and challenges beyond their own community. 

Geography at Aston Rowant School 

At Aston Rowant School Geography is taught using the Kapow Primary Geography scheme, which provides a coherent, knowledge‑rich and carefully sequenced curriculum from EYFS through to Key Stage 2. The scheme supports our aim to develop pupils who are curious about the world, confident in geographical skills and increasingly aware of their responsibilities as global citizens. 

As a mixed‑age school, we operate a two‑year rolling programme to ensure progression, breadth and balance. This approach allows pupils to revisit key geographical concepts in increasing depth, while avoiding repetition and ensuring that learning builds securely over time. 

Long‑Term Overview (EYFS to KS2) 

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

In EYFS, geography learning forms part of Understanding the World. Children begin by exploring: 

• Their immediate environment 
• Familiar places such as home, school and the local area 
• Basic geographical language (near, far, around, different) 
• Weather, seasons and natural features 
• Learning is practical, play‑based and rooted in first‑hand experiences, laying strong foundations for later geographical understanding. 

Key Stage 1 – Squirrel Class (Year 1 & Year 2) 

In Squirrel Class, pupils follow a two‑year rolling programme using Kapow units appropriate for Lower Key Stage Geography. 

Across the two years, children: 

• Study local and contrasting places 
• Learn about human and physical features 
• Develop basic map skills (including simple symbols and directions) 
• Begin to understand how people interact with their environment 
• Learning moves from the local and familiar to more distant places, building confidence and curiosity. 

Lower Key Stage 2 – Fox Class (Year 3 & Year 4) 

In Fox Class, geography builds in both depth and challenge. The rolling programme ensures that: 

• Knowledge from KS1 is revisited and expanded 
• Pupils compare regions within the UK and beyond 
• Physical processes such as rivers, mountains and climate are explored 
• Map skills are extended using atlases, scale and grid references 
• Children begin to analyse patterns and relationships, rather than simply describing places. 

Upper Key Stage 2 – Owl Class (Year 5 & Year 6) 

In Owl Class, pupils engage with increasingly complex geographical concepts that prepare them for secondary school. 

Across the two‑year cycle, pupils: 

• Explore global geography and interconnected systems 
• Study sustainability, climate change and human impact 
• Use a wide range of geographical data and sources 
• Apply knowledge to real‑world issues and debates 
• Geography in KS2 encourages critical thinking, environmental responsibility and global awareness. 

Progression of Knowledge and Skills 

The Kapow scheme supports clear progression by ensuring that pupils: 

• Revisit key concepts regularly (such as place, environment and sustainability) 
• Build vocabulary gradually and revisit it in different contexts 
• Develop map skills incrementally, from simple directions to complex interpretation 
• Move from observation and description to explanation and evaluation 
• Our rolling programme ensures that no unit is repeated, while prior learning is continually activated and built upon. 

Key Themes Revisited Across the Curriculum 

Throughout EYFS, KS1 and KS2, several key geographical themes are revisited to deepen understanding: 

🌍 Place and Location 

• From local environments to global regions 
• Comparing similarities and differences between places

🌱 Environment and Sustainability 

• Understanding natural resources 
• Human impact on landscapes and climate 
• Responsibility for protecting the planet 

🧭 Geographical Skills 

• Map use, fieldwork, data interpretation 
• Observational and enquiry skills 
• Revisiting these themes ensures coherence, connection and secure long‑term learning. 

Why a Rolling Programme Works 

Our two‑year rolling programme: 

• Ensures full curriculum coverage 
• Supports mixed‑age teaching effectively 
• Allows pupils to build on prior learning without repetition 
• Maintains ambition and progression for all learners 
• It supports high expectations and ensures that every child receives a rich, balanced and sequential geography education.