2025 – 2026 Highlights: Junior School Geography

A World of Discovery: Geography in the Junior School

This year in the Junior School, our budding geographers have been on a journey of discovery – exploring new places, both near and far, and developing a real curiosity about the world around them.

Across the school, the girls have enjoyed a wide range of geography-based learning, from map reading and research projects to workshops, trips and talks from parents about their home countries. Whether learning in the classroom or beyond it, the girls have approached each topic with enthusiasm and energy.

Reception girls began the year by getting to know their new school – after all, learning how to find your way around is an essential first step! In Year 1, the girls discovered what life is like in the North and South Poles and went outside to explore their Wonderful Weather topic, while Year 3 explored the features of rivers, with a particular focus on the River Nile.

The Spring Term saw Year 2 diving into the geography of the British Isles. Meanwhile, Year 4 and Year 5 broadened their horizons with topics on Kenya and India. These studies involved learning about the climate, daily life and the culture of these places; the girls then drew comparisons to life here in the UK.

Meanwhile, Year 5 became global detectives, turning their attention to a mystery right inside their own kitchens: Where does our food actually come from, and how far does it travel to reach our doors? The results of their research were absolutely eye-opening. While we might buy our groceries at the local supermarket, the ingredients themselves have often been on a massive, round-the-world adventure before they arrive on our plates.

The girls mapped out the origins of everyday foods and calculated the staggering distances, known as food miles, that some items travel. To put that into perspective, an apple from New Zealand travels nearly halfway around the entire planet just so we can have a crunchy snack in autumn!

Through this project, Year 5 didn’t just practise their geography and maths skills; they also became critical environmental thinkers. They discovered that to eat fruits like strawberries and tomatoes all year round, the UK relies heavily on warmer climates and the Southern Hemisphere during our colder months.

However, the classes also learned a surprising twist about carbon footprints: transporting food on massive cargo ships (like bananas) actually creates fewer emissions per fruit than flying fragile berries across shorter distances on an aeroplane. Ultimately, by contrasting these massive numbers with local British staples like potatoes and carrots, the girls saw exactly how buying local food can drastically cut down on global energy and pollution.

The Junior School girls continue to enjoy the cross-curricular Orienteering Course, which was introduced just last year. Some year groups participated in an Orienteering Easter Egg Hunt, exploring the trail which spans from the driveway round the school down to the Forest School area.

During their two-night residential stay at PGL in Liddington, the girls enjoyed spending time with their friends while navigating their way around the site. Activities included fieldwork skills, the giant swing, trapeze, orienteering and even some archery training!

It’s been a fantastic year for Geography across the Junior School. From workshops and field trips to cross-curricular learning and hands-on exploration, the girls have built strong geographical knowledge and, more importantly, a deep interest in the world and how it works.

Here’s to another year of adventure, discovery and global thinking!