Geography
The Black Country Schools Federation
At The Black Country Schools, geography is a vital part of our curriculum, enabling pupils to understand the complexity of the world, its people, and their interconnected environments. Through the CUSP Geography Curriculum, our pupils become inquisitive, knowledgeable, and environmentally conscious global citizens.
Curriculum Intent
Our geography curriculum ensures pupils:
- Build secure locational knowledge and spatial awareness
- Develop deep understanding of human and physical geography
- Think like geographers – posing questions, collecting data, interpreting evidence
- Acquire and use subject-specific vocabulary precisely
- Make meaningful connections across time, place, and disciplines
We are currently working towards the Geography Quality Mark, highlighting our commitment to curriculum excellence and rich fieldwork opportunities. As part of this, we host events such as the CUSP Food Festival, linking geography to global cuisine, sustainability, and food systems.
Early Years Foundation Stage
In EYFS, geography is embedded in “Understanding the World” and focuses on:
- Recognising local environments (home, school, community)
- Developing a sense of place through discussion and story
- Exploring simple maps, directions, and seasonal change
These early experiences develop observation, curiosity, and spatial thinking — all vital for future geographical learning.
Curriculum Structure
The CUSP Geography Curriculum is built on five core strands:
- Locational Knowledge
- Naming continents, oceans, countries, and cities
- Using latitude, longitude, Equator, hemispheres, and tropics
- Developing mental maps and spatial understanding
- Place Knowledge
- Comparing environments and cultures
- Understanding human and physical characteristics of different places
- Human and Physical Geography
- Studying rivers, coasts, mountains, climate, and weather
- Exploring human processes: settlement, trade, migration, and land use
- Geographical Skills and Fieldwork
- Using maps, globes, aerial images, and digital mapping
- Conducting fieldwork, collecting data, and drawing conclusions
- Environmental Impact and Sustainability
- Understanding the effect of human activity on ecosystems
- Promoting sustainable choices and conservation
Lesson Model
Each CUSP geography lesson follows a consistent, research-informed sequence:
- Connect – Recall and activate prior knowledge
- Explain – Introduce new vocabulary and concepts
- Example – Model geographical thinking and processes
- Attempt – Structured practice of new learning
- Apply – Independent application using maps, data, or extended writing
- Challenge – Encourage comparison, reasoning, and evaluation
This deliberate model ensures knowledge is secure, applied, and revisited over time.
Curriculum Progression
Key Stage 1:
- Identify continents, oceans, UK countries, and local geography
- Compare contrasting locations (e.g., London and Nairobi)
- Understand simple human and physical features
- Conduct basic fieldwork and mapping
Lower Key Stage 2:
- Study rivers, the water cycle, and environmental regions
- Build confidence using maps, compasses, and data
- Explore local landscapes and conduct fieldwork
Upper Key Stage 2:
- Deepen understanding of biomes, settlements, and trade
- Study natural disasters (earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains)
- Explore global interdependence and climate change
By the end of Year 6, pupils are confident in applying geographical concepts and are prepared for more complex study at secondary level.
Local Geography and Enquiry
We enrich our curriculum with studies of the Black Country region:
- Year 2: How has our local area changed over time?
- Year 6: How did World War II shape our local environment?
Pupils investigate land use, industry, transport, and community history, using maps and local resources to bring learning to life.
Assessment
We assess geography through:
- Retrieval practice and low-stakes quizzes
- Fieldwork journals and map tasks
- Structured writing and explanation
- Discussion and vocabulary checks
This ensures that pupils retain knowledge and apply it meaningfully.
Further Information
For:
- CUSP Geography curriculum maps
- Fieldwork and home learning examples
- Knowledge documents and enquiry questions
Please contact the CUSP team at cusp@unitysp.co.uk
