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With the consultation on the draft revised programmes of study for the KS1-KS3 national curriculum and the first group of GCSEs now expected in September, we wanted to update you on what to expect from the Society during this period of curriculum reform.   

What's happening and when

In September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) plan to launch a consultation on the draft programmes of study for KS1, 2 and 3 in geography and the first group of GCSEs.  

In Spring 2027, DfE plans to publish the final KS1-3 programmes of study. 

September 2028 will be the first required teaching of the new KS1-3 curriculum.   

What’s new/what’s changed/what’s staying  

From the outset of the Curriculum and Assessment Review, there’s been a commitment from DfE for evolution not revolution.  

We can expect new or adapted elements with an increase in disciplinary knowledge at KS3, which will support progression, reduce repetition and deepen understanding of key geographical concepts for all young people. Other areas of focus are likely to include climate change, sustainability and fieldwork – you can read more about this in a previous Society update on the curriculum. 

Once the consultation is published in September, we’ll be sharing briefings on the key changes.

Have your say

We’ve been actively involved in the Curriculum and Assessment Review and welcome many of the recommendations, but now they need to be put into practice.  

We will be reviewing the new curriculum carefully and plan to respond to the consultation, drawing on the expertise of the geography teaching community and our members and Fellowship.  

We need your input, insights and expertise. Your contributions so far in this process have been invaluable. 

For the September consultation, you can:   

  • Join our focus groups – discuss the proposed curriculum changes by joining one of our online focus groups (exact dates will be published once the consultation is live).  You can register your interest in attending now and we will contact you once the groups have been arranged.
  • Complete our survey – we will share the key questions for geography on our website so you can provide your input to us directly. We’ll draw on these to inform our response. More details will follow when the consultation is live.
  • Do you have any other comments to make? Please send us an email to responses@rgs.org. These will be picked up by the Education Team. 

Getting curriculum ready 

Look out for resources and webinars from the Society this autumn onwards to help you and your departments review your current provision, identify what needs to change and then develop new programmes of work.  

We’ll have a RAG (Red, Amber, Green) framework for you and your departments to assess what you already have covered well, identify gaps, and prioritise areas for development. 

We will also be creating new resources mapped out against the new requirements, as well as offering CPD (Continuing Professional Development) to support you in new areas or where changes are greatest.  

If there is other support you think teachers or students will require, please let us know.  

Implementing the new curriculum 

We’ll be with you through 2027, 2028 and beyond, as we settle into the new curriculum.  

Please make sure you have signed up to our newsletter to keep informed of our resources, courses and other opportunities to help you and your department navigate this exciting time. Please note you'll need to create a free Society account to do so and select 'news and events for teachers'.

Don’t forget that the Society can also support you and your department through School Membership, which has recently been reduced in price to just £50 per year. 

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