Geography at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School
“The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It’s about understanding the complexity of our world, appreciating the diversity of cultures that exist across continents. And in the end, it’s about using all that knowledge to help bridge divides and bring people together.”
Barack Obama
At St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that geography opens children’s eyes to the wonders of God’s world and helps them develop a deep understanding of the places, people and environments that shape our lives. Through engaging, practical and meaningful experiences, we inspire pupils to be curious about the world around them and to recognise their role as responsible global citizens.
Our geography curriculum encourages children to explore, question and appreciate the diverse world in which they live. We aim to nurture a sense of wonder and curiosity about different countries, cultures and environments while helping pupils understand how places and landscapes have changed over time. Learning is enriched through fieldwork, outdoor learning opportunities and first-hand experiences that bring geography to life and develop a genuine love of the subject.
Geography enables children to investigate the relationship between people and the environment through the study of place, space and human and physical processes. Pupils learn about their local area of Chorley, Lancashire, the United Kingdom and the wider world, comparing similarities and differences between communities and exploring how human actions impact the environment.
“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.”
St Augustine
As children progress through school, they develop important geographical skills including map reading, data collection, fieldwork, observation, analysis and interpretation. These skills support children in becoming independent learners who can ask thoughtful questions, investigate real-world issues and make informed decisions.
A high-quality geography education inspires children to develop a fascination with the world and its people. Through studying diverse locations and cultures, pupils gain respect, empathy and a greater appreciation of the richness of human experience. Geography also helps children understand the challenges facing our planet, including climate change, sustainability and environmental responsibility.
At St Gregory’s, we encourage children to think critically about how they can care for God's creation and contribute positively to the future of our world. Geography helps our pupils understand that their actions can make a difference, both locally and globally.
Our Curriculum
We have developed a bespoke geography curriculum at St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School, drawing upon the Lancashire Geography Scheme whilst carefully adapting it to meet the needs of our children and community. Our curriculum is ambitious, knowledge-rich and carefully sequenced to ensure that geographical knowledge and skills build progressively throughout the primary years.
Children revisit and deepen their understanding of key geographical concepts over time, enabling them to make connections between previous learning and new experiences. Through carefully planned units of work, pupils explore themes such as settlements, physical landscapes, climate, sustainability, trade, migration and environmental change.
Teachers deliver engaging lessons that build upon prior learning, make purposeful cross-curricular links and provide opportunities for enquiry-based learning. Particular emphasis is placed on helping children understand Chorley and the surrounding area, developing a strong sense of place and belonging while recognising how their local community connects to the wider world.
Supported by high-quality resources, meaningful fieldwork experiences and a commitment to excellence, our geography curriculum equips children with the knowledge, skills and values needed to understand and care for the world they live in.
Through Geography at St Gregory's, our children learn to:
- Be curious about the world and its people.
- Understand and appreciate different cultures and communities.
- Develop strong fieldwork, mapping and enquiry skills.
- Explore local, national and global issues.
- Understand the importance of sustainability and environmental stewardship.
- Think critically about how human actions affect our planet.
- Become responsible citizens who live out our school values of: Be Kind • Be Fair • Be Honest.
We also use Digimap for Schools, alongside paper atlases and globes, to ensure pupils have access to aerial photography and high-quality mapping from Ordnance Survey to support their learning.
Click Below for Geography Knowledge Organisers
Year 1 Year 2 Year3 Year 4 Year 5 Year 6
Visits and Visitors enhance our History & Geography Subjects.
Most recently some of these activities have included:
- CREW Drama group visiting school for a WWI experience in partnership with Lancashire Museum.
- Chorley Remembers Exhibition at Astley Hall
- Horrible Histories Theatre Trips
- Various storytellers and author visits to school
- Visit to Chorley Town Hall and the Mayor’s Parlour Suite
- Beatrix Potter World
- Pantomimes at The Duke’s Theatre in Lancaster
- Anglo Saxon Day for Year 5
- World War 1 Day for Year 3
- Year 4 Egyptian trip
- Victorian Day for Year 6
- Visit to Viking Museum in Chester for Year 3
- Quarry Bank Cotton Mill trip for Year 4
- Geography Field trip to Brockholes for Year 4
- Geography Field trip to Yarrow Valley to study local geography. (Year 4 & Year 6)
- Year 6 River Study at River Brock
- Year 6 Normans workshop
Click here for Geography Curriculum Overview
Click here for Geography Curriculum – End of Year Expectations