We, as adults, are aware that the world is a magnificent, complex and fascinating place. At St Christopher's we aim to encourage in our pupils a sense of wonderment and excitement about the world. As changes happen more quickly, communications become faster and challenges to the environment increase, a knowledge and understanding of geography is more vital than ever. Geography is an essential tool for preparing young people for life in the twenty-first century.

In the Lower School, pupils are introduced to maps in year one and are using atlases by the end of year three, as well as having an idea of what an O.S. map is about and being able to interpret simple graphs. Pupils study the local environment, looking at traffic, transport and environmental change. Talking about holidays leads the children into looking at countries and capitals, hot and cold places around the world and coastal features in the U.K. Projects are done on France, India and the tropical rainforests.

Middle School pupils continue to enjoy map-work and they look in greater depth at coasts and water. They are introduced to earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding. Work on Kenya leads into a study of Fairtrade and the children also carry out a project on a part of the U.K.

By the time the children are in the upper school, they are revisiting O.S.  maps in greater depth, to prepare them for Common Entrance and Scholarship exams. We also study geomorphology, weather and climate, tectonic processes, environmental issues and economic activity. We have field trips to the Cuckmere Valley, Birling Gap, Lewes and Burgess Hill, as well as a visit to the Earth Galleries at the Natural History Museum.

We hope that we are not only leading our pupils to successes at Common Entrance and Scholarship but also giving them something which will help them to enjoy the world we live in and look after it as well.