Consultations

We reaffirm our commitment to a transition towards a sustainable open science/research ecosystem and offer reflections on the various open access models and business plans discussed in the consultation document. 

We strongly support the introduction of a ‘quality of education’ judgement and the publication of Ofsted subject reviews. We also comment on the wording of Intent, Implementation and Impact statements.

We support the aims of TEF but express concern that its metrics (including student satisfaction and employment outcomes) do not capture teaching excellence and do not explore nuances in localised provision.

In our response to the QAA consultation, we do not support the idea of an external advisor on academic standards, and note that proposed classification descriptors should be related to Subject Benchmark Statements.

We recommend the inclusion of subject bodies as key information providers and highlight the Society's provision of subject choice advice.

Our response notes that draft standards do not sufficiently recognise important geographical digital skills and privacy issues around geospatial data.

In our response regarding REF, we request transparency and clarity in methods and approach, and express concerns about administrative burden and UoA / HESA mapping

Our evidence to the Cabinet Office focuses on the role of geography in delivering geospatial and broader geographical skills. We highlight a need to support subject specialist staff and relevant GI training in schools and HE.

We highlight the importance of geospatial technologies and geographical data to the UK's economy, and, in relation to this, the role of geography and geographers in future industrial development

Our response to the UK Statistics Authority's draft code of practice for statistics notes the essential role of geography in linking and contextualising datasets.

We highlight how geography and GI can enable more efficient transport networks

A consultation on measuring and reporting the SDGs. Our response emphasises the importance of GI to evaluating SDG progress

Our response emphasises the value of geography in developing AHSS skills, and aims to better define them.

Our response to the green paper on industrial strategy pays particular attention to the role of social sciences in developing skills, and the need for a geographical/spatial basis to regional development planning.

Our written evidence to the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee inquiry into the STEM skills gap.

Response submitted 2017

Our response to the BEIS consultation on TEF emphasises the importance and interconnection of teaching and research and supports the use of qualitative metrics for a more effective TEF.

Our submission to the Education Committee states the importance of international collaboration in education, and highlights the importance of EU staff and students to geographical research in the UK.

An inquiry on the purposes and evaluation of education in England. Our response advocates for geography's role in developing skills, supports geography's inclusion in the EBacc, and expresses concern over shortage of specialist teachers.

We caution that TEF metrics must appropriately recognise issues around equality and access, and should be better defined and communicated. We support the focus on teaching quality

Our response emphasises the importance of subject-specific knowledge, pedagogy, skills and community engagement.

Our response to the DfE consultation outlines the Society's CPD work with teachers, and encourages support for sustained CPD throughout teachers' careers.

We highlight a number of policy areas for scrutiny, including energy from waste, renewable energy and power storage. We also note that the DECC must consider the energy impacts of other government policies

Our response to the consultation on topics for the 2021 Census in England and Wales explains how census data is used by geographers, and the importance of consistency in census definitions.

Our representation for the 2015 budget advocates for social science funding, highlights the role of geography, and supports the recommendations of the AcSS ‘Business of People’ report that call for real-terms increases and ring-fencing of the Science budget

We do not support the separation of AS and A level geography, or external assessment (as opposed to moderation) of of non-exam assessment. We welcome the 80:20 balance of assessment proposed.

Our invited response requests that the Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies statement explicitly acknowledge subject overlap with geography.

Our response evaluates the existing network, and advocates for fieldwork and interdisciplinarity in future developments. We also highlight a lack of flexibility in 1+3 studentships.

Our response welcomes the revised content, and suggests some changes to wording. However, we encourage more emphasis on developing quantitative and geo-spatial data skills.

Our invited response encourages the ESRC to support interdisciplinary and multi-scalar research, and invest in a spatial (geographical) focus.

Our invited response to the benchmark statement for geography recommends greater emphasis on quantitative methods and GIS, and recognition of overlap with the Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies benchmark statement.

Our response welcomes the emphasis on fieldwork, and the potential for non-exam assessment to develop students' skills with longer-form research projects.

Our reponse argues for clearer wording of criteria, point-of-publication access to outputs, and distinct HEFCE policy on embargoes and licensing.

In response to the Ofqual consultation, we argue for the continuation of the Ebac, and recommend more opportunities for extended writing, maths and statistics work in GCSE geography. We also express concern over lower grades generally awarded to early entry students in 2013.

In our response to The Prince's Teaching Institute we criticise overlap between the proposed role of the College of Teaching, and the work and role of Learned Societies - particularly in the areas of specialist support and CPD, advice to government, and specialist accreditation.

Response submitted 2013

Our response welcomes a clearer progression in content and framework from Key Stage 1 - 3 to GCSE. We also suggest formalising requirements for quantitative skills in geography, and the use of short annual fieldwork returns.

Our response expresses concern that the "measure of 8" perfomance measure within the EBac does not necessarily include a humanities subject

A consultation on proposed changes to the National Curriculum. Our response comments on proposed changes, welcomes some aspects of the curriculum, and advocates for parity with history

Our response expresses concern that there is insufficient evidence that promoting Gold OA will meet sustainability, access and excellence criteria.

Our evidence submission requests 24-month embargo periods for 'green' OA, and suggests that 'green' routes may dominate humanities and social sciences without increased funding for 'gold'. We also request that CC-BY-NC-ND be the default licence standard.

A consultation on changes to KS4 examination. Our response advocates a common grading structure, external marking, fieldwork, and independently-run CPD for teachers

Our response to the follow-up consultation on "A Vision for Science and Society" by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (now Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy). Our response argues that geography should be recognised more widely as a part-STEM discipline.

A consultation on the proposed merged of BAS and NOC. Our response says there is insufficient evidence to support merging the centres

We argue that the statutory requirement for careers guidance should be extended, and welcome the proposed extension of advice to Year 8 pupils

Our response advocates for the inclusion of coursework and consistent fieldwork across each cohort. We also support comparability of demand and content in different specifications.

Our response notes that feedback from teachers suggests less teaching time, as well as noting "unanimous support" for fieldwork

Our response highlights geographies of alcohol consumption, drawing on an RGS-IBG policy conference and brief in 2010.

We argue the proposals penalise geography' success; that teaching costs, particularly from fieldwork, have been underestimated; and that HEFCE's approach rewards higher-fee institutions.

Our response to the DfE consultation on careers guidance provision welcomes the prospect of extending guidance to 12-12 year olds, and 16-18 year olds.

Response submitted 2012

In evidence submitted to the Commons Science and Technology Committee, we outline how geographers use census data, and its importance to social science research and government decision-making.

Our response to the HEFCE consultation on REF2014 criteria and methods calls for greater consistency across main panel criteria and methods, and highlights omissions in descriptors for geography.

Our written response to the Science and Technology Committee's inquiry into spending review argued for greater recognition and support for the role of social sciences, arts and humanities in research.

Our response, to proposed changes to qualifications for students from 14-16, agreed that most students should study an "academic core", and that issues of equivalence between academic and vocation qualifications should be addressed.

Our response to HEFCE's consultation on proposed changes allocation methods for the research degree programme supervision fund welcomes increased funding and encourages the linkage of funding with research quality.

We argue that that fieldwork should remain a compulsory part of a statutory geography curriculum and highlight the Society's activities in support of fieldwork.

Our response to this DCMS consultation argues for a broad understanding of cultural education, and encourages schools to use Learning Outside the Classroom to support this.

We endorse the dual support approach to funding, and argue for the ringfenced AR funding consistent with geography's accepted part-STEM status.

Our response argues for an international and multiscalar focus in the new strategic priorities.

Our response highlights the employability of geography graduates, and the relevance of geographical skills in industry. We also call for better access to quality information on courses and careers, and funding support for teaching and research.

Our response welcomes the proposed release of certain OS datasets, and argues for sustained long-term funding for OS and MasterMap.

Our response strongly states that geography should be understood as a part-STEM subject, and defends the contribution of geography to scientific research and value creation

We convey community comments, and emphasise that geography must be recognised and assessed as a single unit, but in a way that accounts for the nature of the discipline

Our response to DfID's consultation draws attention to the role of the Society in building knowledge and understanding on global issues.

Response submitted 2009

In our response to the programme of learning aspect of the Rose Review, we call for greater emphasis on spatial understanding, and a closer balance between human and physical geography.

Our response to the initial DIUS proposals encourages greater engagement from policymakers, publics and researchers, which can be facilitated by learned societies. It also advocates for greater recognition of the breadth of 'science', the role of public engagement, and the value of policy-relevant research.

Our response calls for AHRC recognition of geography in interdisciplinary or non-humanities units, and evaluates how several funding proposals might affect geography researchers

Our response to the DfE notes that geography is not mentioned in the consultation document, despite at the time being the only subject with statutory reference to the provision of fieldwork in school. It also advocates for substantive commitments to fieldwork.

Our response evaluates the 1+3 model in general, and highlights inflexible quota allocations and limited options for quantitative training as discipline-specific issues.

Our response to this Department for Education and Skills (now-DfE) consultation evaluates the meaning and role of metrics in RAE2008 assessments