Geography and History

In History, our children embark on a journey through time, starting with changes within living memory by exploring the history of our own school and comparing Fleetville then and now. We broaden our horizons to study events beyond living memory that shaped our nation, such as the Great Fire of London and the grandeur of castle life, enriched by a visit to Windsor Castle. Children are inspired by the lives of significant individuals who changed the world, including Florence Nightingale and Isambard Kingdom Brunel to space explorers Neil Armstrong and Katherine Johnson. We also take pride in our local heritage, learning about Samuel Ryder and his impact on St Albans, alongside celebrating global sporting heroes like Tanni Grey-Thompson, Pele, and Muhammad Ali.

Our Geography curriculum develops a deep curiosity about the world, beginning with fieldwork in our local area. Pupils use locational language and compass directions to map Fleetville and St Albans, identifying human and physical features during walks along the Alban Way and local area. As their world expands, children learn to name and locate the four countries and capital cities of the UK, as well as the seven continents and five oceans. We bring global geography to life by contrasting our local environment with distant lands, comparing London with other countries around the world and our local woodlands to the Brazilian Rainforest. Through stories like Meerkats Mail, children explore the location of the Equator and the North and South Poles, gaining a foundational understanding of how climate and landscapes vary across our incredible planet.