The Society is closely following current developments in education policy and their implications for the subject as it is taught in schools, as well as for out of classroom learning, with the new Government.
Review of the National Curriculum
On 20 January 2011, the Secretary of State for Education, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, announced a major review of the National Curriculum in England, including the phase one ‘call for evidence’ (deadline 14 April 2011), seeking views on which subjects and content should be in the school curriculum.
The Society has submitted its views (PDF). We believe passionately that geography is vital as a compulsory National Curriculum subject at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 (i.e. 5 -14 ages); and ideally also at Key Stage 4 (i.e.14-16 ages).
The timetable for the curriculum review, will run through to September 2014. The Society will continue to contribute to the process at all stages of the review.
On 20 December 2011 the Expert Group appointed by the Secretary of State published a series of documents, including its own series of recommendations: "The Framework for the National Curriculum"
This led the Secretary of State to release a parliamentary statement announcing a delay to the process, with further details of changes to the timetable and remit to be announced in early 2012.
Geography in the English Baccalaureate
The Schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, was published by the Department for Education on 09 December 2010.
Included within this White Paper was the announcement of “a new award – the English Baccalaureate – for any student who secures good GCSE or iGCSE passes in English, mathematics, the sciences, a modern or ancient foreign language and a humanity such as history or geography. This combination of GCSEs at grades A*-C will entitle the student to a certificate recording their achievement”
The Society welcomes the fact that geography is one of the two humanity options alongside history.
On 20 July 2011 the Department of Education announced that the subjects in the Eng Bacc will stay the same for the next set of league tables to be published in January 2012 based on results from 2011 (25 August 2011).
The Society has submitted evidence to the Education Select Committee of the House of Common's Inquiry into the English Baccalaureate which closed on Tuesday 8 March. The committee published its final report on 28 July 2011.
Out of classroom learning
The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee has undetaken an inquiry on practical experiments in school science lessons and science field trips to which the Society has submitted its views. On 7 September 2011 a report on the conclusions was published by the Committee and the Government responded on 29 November.
Schools exam results
Detailed analysis of GCSE and A Level results are available from 2000 to 2010 on these pages. Results from 2011 were published on 18 August 2011 (A Level) and 25 August 2011 (GCSE).
Last updated 01.02.12
Monitoring of schools policy announcements
The Society continues to monitor policy announcements and Parliamentary activity relating to schools with links provided below:
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