1. The New Geography Curriculum: ………….School to HE ……..raising the issues Eleanor Rawling University of Oxford GA Conference April 20 2006

2. Why the School/HE relationship is worth worrying about……(1) Change and development in the subject as the life blood that keeps the curriculum fresh at all levels (eg research links with cognate disciplines, GCSE pilot); Pupils’ experience/involvement in geography essential to global citizenship and as a form of knowledge creation itself; Image/identity of geography as key to public understanding, recognition, status, funding – all levels Functional linkages requiring supply of geographers into HE, back into teacher training and school teaching

3. Why the School/HE relationship is worth worrying about……(2) The subject has been looking tired and dated in school curriculum frameworks (11-19yrs) Signs that not all pupils are experiencing stimulating and relevant geography (5-11yrs) Poor image with the public and policy-makers Declining entries for GCSE and A level Growing evidence of a gap between schools and HE Debates within HE about diversity and fragmentation March 2006 - Geography Action Plan

4. Issues about the relationship How to promote progression and continuity? – detailed curriculum prescription; broad criteria (eg A level, benchmark); statements of purpose/character; How to promote quality? – national frameworks identifying big ideas/processes; focus on subject scholarship in ITE; subject-based professional development; web-based support; cross sector cpd; How to reactivate cross-sectoral dialogue about the subject? – school texts/examining; action research projects (HE and school); local consortia; How to ensure public understanding?-clearer definition of geography; media awareness /strategy; subject community work together

5. Character/Focus of each Key Stage overall Geography in: EY/KS1 (3-7yrs)– Establishing Foundations for learning KS2 (7-11yrs) – Moving out to New Challenges KS3 (11-14yrs)– Building Confidence, Capability and Inspiration KS4 (14-16yrs)Promoting Participation, Citizenship and new Possibilities 16-19yrs (KS5) Ensuring Opportunities for Specialism and Scholarship (+Satisfaction) Undergraduate courses - ?

6. What relationship between the school and academic subjects? Academic disciplines and school subjects are essentially continuous- ss is a simpler/lower level of ad (Geog in 1960s?) discontinuous/not closely related – affected by different factors (if current trends continue?) related by common aims and broad principles but develop in different ways as a result of different context…..(the ideal?) Stengel 1997

7. Geography in 21 st Century – a subject tribe sharing common aims and identity, coherent public image and strong intellectual discourse If this, then it implies a commitment to: Discuss/agree broad aims and big picture for geography; Promote/maintain subject-focused CPD for teachers at all levels; Promote and develop a strong subject community - shared subject scholarship experiences, accessible research, chance for debate, cross-sector events; Ensure some kind of agreed media approach /strategy?