The Geography Department at Westminster Under School seeks to inspire in our pupils a lasting curiosity about the world around them. Geography helps pupils to understand where places are, how landscapes are formed, how people interact with their environments, and how societies and economies across the globe are interconnected.
Our aim is to equip pupils with the knowledge, understanding, and skills to interpret today’s world, and to prepare them for the future as informed, thoughtful, global citizens. Lessons build on the pupils’ own experiences and use contemporary case studies to explore real-world issues, from migration to climate change, and tourism to geopolitics.
Curriculum
The Geography Department delivers lessons that encourage enquiry, critical thinking, and intellectual engagement. While our curriculum is informed by the Independent Schools’ Examination Board (ISEB), we enjoy the freedom to go beyond it, allowing for deeper exploration and more varied learning experiences.
Key topics
Topics studied include:
- Physical Geography: tectonics, rivers, coasts, meteorology, climate change;
- Human Geography: globalisation, urbanisation, migration, development;
- Environmental Geography: sustainability, climate change, natural resource use;
- Geopolitics and current affairs.
We ensure that pupils:
- develop spatial awareness and an understanding of place, scale, and time;
- explore how physical and human systems interact and impact on each other;
- engage with local, national, and global challenges through real-life case studies.
Skills
We equip our pupils with a wide range of academic and practical skills that support their learning across the curriculum. These include:
- Map and spatial skills: using atlases, OS maps, and digital GIS tools;
- Data interpretation: analysing graphs, charts, photographs, and satellite images;
- Fieldwork and enquiry: conducting investigations, collecting data, challenging assumptions, forming conclusions;
- Core academic skills: writing clearly and analytically, critical thinking, numeracy, and digital literacy;
- Teamwork and collaboration: working effectively in groups on projects and presentations.
These transferable skills support pupils’ learning beyond Geography and are essential for lifelong learning.
Enrichment
The Geography Department offers a rich programme of opportunities beyond the classroom.
- Geography Society – a pupil-led society which has an oversight of some of the pupil activities listed below:
Geobites – short presentations by pupils on current geographical issues (e.g. AI, Climate Change, Cities of the Future);
GeoPodcasts – pupil-created recordings exploring topics of interest;
GeoQuiz – Geography quiz competition;
Geography Magazine – produced by pupils with input from across the School. - Field trips – local excursions and overseas trips, which help to bring Geography to life;
- Visiting speakers – experts from fields such as environmental science, geopolitics, tourism, and AI (speakers have included Tim Marshall and Didem Un Ates).
These opportunities enable pupils to pursue their interests and stretch their understanding of the world.
Departmental Staff
Mr Oliver Campbell Smith
— Head of Geography; Head of Year 8
Mr Matthew Kerr
— Assistant Master (Extra-Curricular)
Ms Milly Langford
— Acting Head of Juniors, 4L Class Teacher
Mrs Mary Raikes
— 3R Class Teacher
Ms Hayley Wellman
— Deputy Master, Lower School; Head of PSHE; Designated Safeguarding Lead
Miss Lizzie Young
— 4Y Class Teacher
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“Geography at WUS is unlike any other school I know. It’s my favourite subject because we always go beyond the classroom and the curriculum to understand the world around us. Geography brings together societal studies, economics, and physical geography in a way that challenges assumptions, sparks debate, helps us make sense of current events, and fosters real intellectual curiosity.”
— Year 7 pupil
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“Geography is about the world around us: how it came to be, what impact it has had on us humans and our developments and how we interact with it, and each other. It is about exploring many of the key questions that we face today - migration, sustainability, natural hazards. But it’s also about understanding where things are and building mental maps. The Geography Department covers this and more in lessons that are fun, fast-paced, and informative - whether you’re in Year 3 or Year 8. The Year 8 course has opened my eyes to new ways of seeing the world and evaluating it. The teachers are so enthusiastic, and the field trips, both local and international, are amazing. Geography has been one of the highlights of my time at the Under School.”
— Year 8 pupil
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“Our aim is to bring Geography to life for the pupils through lively teaching, real-world application, and opportunities to explore beyond the classroom. We encourage them to debate big issues, ask bold questions, and think critically about the world around them. Each lesson is a springboard - to read, listen, research, collaborate, and engage with global challenges. Geography at the Under School is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about nurturing curiosity, responsibility, and a readiness to play an informed, active role in the world.”
— Mr O Campbell Smith, Head of Geography
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