Curriculum review call for evidence – help us shape our response

The Government has launched an open call for evidence to inform its curriculum and assessment review for England, which is being chaired by Professor Becky Francis CBE.

The review spans key stages 1 to 4, and 16 to 19 education, and will look closely at the challenges to attainment for young people, and the barriers which many children face – in particular those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, or with special educational needs or disability (SEND).

The review is wide ranging and is seeking evidence from young people and parents, teachers and lecturers, leaders, experts and employers on how the curriculum and assessment system can ensure all young people are prepared for life and work.

The Society will be responding to the call for evidence and we want to hear your views to help us formulate our response. In particular:

• We know that many in education feel the geography curriculum at GCSE is overloaded. Do you agree? If so, how can the load be reduced while keeping a coherent curriculum? What should assessment look like?
• We often hear from young people that the geography curriculum is not relevant to them and the world they now live in. What changes could be made to improve this?
• We believe fieldwork is an essential element of geography in schools. How can high quality fieldwork provision for all students be assured? How should it be assessed?
• We believe that geography is the central home for learning about climate change and action. Do you agree? How would you describe the value a geographical perspective brings to understanding and responding to climate change?
• We recognise that spatial data skills are vital for employability, especially within the growing green careers sectors. How should these be embedded across the different key stages? How should teachers be supported to deliver this element of the curriculum?

There will be other evidence that demonstrates what is working well within geographical education in schools, as well as what isn’t, so don’t feel constrained by the points above. Whatever your point of view, please let us know by emailing responses@rgs.org by 11.00am on Monday 4 November.

The call for evidence is open until Friday 22 November, so please do also submit your own response.