Green Skills Report from the GA

A new report from the Geographical Association in time for Green Careers week.

Geography shapes who we are, how we view the world and how we live within it. It enhances everyone’s learning, livelihoods and lives, and has a vital role to play in supporting the next generation to develop their green skills.

Geography and Green Skills aims to highlight:

• how geography enhances young people’s understanding of climate change and sustainability and develops their environmental awareness and green skills
• the good practice of schools and the perspectives of employers and industry sectors
• the future opportunities and challenges for geography, and where further action is needed.

There is also an accompanying Powerpoint presentation.

GA Research Report: High Quality geography fieldwork for all

Research shows that fieldwork has a positive impact on pupils’ engagement with their learning; increases their knowledge, skills and understanding; supports their achievement; improves their resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing; and boosts cohesion and a sense of belonging. Yet we are at a pivotal moment for geography fieldwork in schools.

The report High-quality geography fieldwork for all draws on the views of over 400 teachers who responded to GA consultations on fieldwork and the geography curriculum, as well as evidence from schools’ submissions to the GA’s Geography Quality Mark accreditation and discussions with geography teachers and key stakeholders.

The aim is to provide a vision of high-quality geography fieldwork for all that is:

• embedded: woven into a planned curriculum that allows for both breadth and depth
• meaningful: connecting real-world and hands-on experiences with the power of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills
• inclusive: equitable and accessible for all
• collaborative: with joined-up thinking and action across schools and other organisations
• demonstrates progression: providing a holistic and mapped progression of knowledge, skills and fluency from EYFS to key stage 5
• encourages pupil agency: empowering them to be curious and engage in fieldwork independently
• sustainable: providing sustainable fieldwork for active citizens that develops young peoples’ ‘green skills’.

The report’s author, Dr Becky Kitchen, commented:

‘This report attempts to draw together some key ideas and provide examples of high-quality fieldwork in primary and secondary schools. However, it is also designed to be used as a practical document for teachers to use as they are thinking about and planning their fieldwork. There is hopefully something for everyone: for schools where fieldwork is well-developed and embedded, to those who are just starting their journey. As we have been doing during this month of the National Festival of Fieldwork, there is much to celebrate.’

The GA is currently preparing its new 2025–30 strategic plan and this report, as well as the National Plan for Fieldwork it includes, will help to shape some of the thinking behind it.

I was intrigued by some of the quotes about the value of fieldwork.

GA response to the Curriculum and Assessment review

You can read the GA's response to the call for evidence as part of the Curriculum for Assessment review by following this link.

They have called for teaching about climate change, sustainability and green skills to be strengthened in geography in the following ways:

• Climate change should be added to the KS2 curriculum and strengthened at KS3.
• Geography’s curriculum and qualifications ‘aims and purpose’ should include reference to the subject contribution to pupils’ green skills.

The GA team have also identified:

• how there is some repetition of content across the primary and secondary geography National Curriculum
• how GCSE geography’s content needs review and reduction, and how the assessment of fieldwork at GCSE needs reform
• the opportunity to achieve greater consistency between geography A level’s NEA and those in other subject areas – especially with reference to teacher guidance and support and word count
• the need to support and strengthen geographical fieldwork at all stages
• and to strengthen pupils use of geospatial data and technologies.

A change of Chief Executive

This blog has traced the history of the GA's Governance, including the change to a structure which included a Chief Executive.

A recent important change was announced.

Alan Kinder is stepping down as Chief Executive after 11 years in the role. 

Alan’s last working day at the GA will be Thursday 21 December 2023. Best wishes of course to Alan for his new role, and heartfelt thanks for all that he has achieved in that time. This will be an interesting period for the GA. 

In a recent update in the Newsletter we learned:

Alan will be taking up a new, dual role early in 2024, as Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Studies Association and General Manager of RSA Europe.

During his time at the GA, Alan crafted two strategic plans (covering the periods 2014–19 and 2020–2025), led the successful implementation of the 2014–19 plan and ensured the GA further developed under its current strategic plan. 

This work focused on bringing geography teachers together, meeting their professional needs, raising the profile of the Association and advocating for high-quality geographical education. It underpinned a doubling of GA membership between 2012 and 2023 and significant growth in the number of schools and teachers engaged with the GA, particularly through its professional development events and social media activities.

Alan represented the GA and the interests of the geography teaching community on national and international stages throughout his time in post, providing expert advice to (amongst others) the Department for Education, Ofsted and Ofqual. 

Through his advocacy work and the extensive body of professional advice and support material he authored on behalf of the GA and its partner organisations, Alan exerted a considerable influence on the curriculum and professional practice we see in geography education today. His recent work to develop a GA Framework for the school geography curriculum will continue to shape the nature and scope of the geography curriculum in the years ahead.

GA Chief Executive Alan Kinder said:

“As a former teacher of geography, it has been the most enormous honour and privilege to have served as the GA’s Chief Executive for more than eleven years. This is a vibrant community, supporting a vital part of every young person’s education. 

Teachers of geography deserve the assistance of an independent subject association, focused squarely on their needs and interests, and I hope I have been able to play a role in representing and supporting teachers effectively during my time in post. 

As I begin to prepare for the exciting professional challenges that lie ahead for me, I’m confident that the GA will use its current strategy as a strong foundation for further progress in the years ahead.”

The search for Alan's replacement is underway.

In the meantime, the leadership of the Association will be shared amongst a number of people in important SLT roles at Solly Street along with several prominent volunteers (and former GA Presidents).

Professor Alastair Owens, the Chair of Trustees shared the news on the plans for continuity of leadership.

Interim leadership arrangements

I am delighted to announce that Elaine Anderson (Head of Publishing), Alex Forsyth (Finance and Operations Manager), and Becky Kitchen (Head of Professional Development) have agreed to share the responsibilities of the Chief Executive role until a new Chief Executive is in post. 

I am also pleased to share that John Hopkin, current Honorary Treasurer of the GA and a former President, has agreed to provide mentorship and support of the acting Chief Executive team, ensuring that there is co-ordination of their roles and responsibilities.

I am very grateful to Elaine, Alex and Becky for agreeing to provide leadership and continuity at this time of transition. Collectively they bring a wide range of skills, know the Association very well, and are already focused on the leadership and delivery of our strategic priorities. During their period of leadership any communications for the attention of the Chief Executive should be addressed to ChiefExec@geography.org.uk so that it can be allocated to the individual with relevant responsibilities.

I am also grateful to John who will bring great wisdom and longstanding GA experience to his advisory and mentoring role.

Search for a new Chief Executive

The GA’s Board of Trustees has established a search committee to oversee the appointment of a new Chief Executive. Following a selection process, the committee has recently contracted the recruitment agency Peridot to assist in this process. 

An advertisement and ‘job pack’ are currently being prepared and will be shared shortly; we encourage members to further share this with any individuals they think suited to the role. Please feel free to write to me at a.j.owens@qmul.ac.uk if you have suggestions for candidates. We hope to have the new Chief Executive in post by the summer of next year.

I am grateful to the entire GA community – our members, those who run our committees, special interest groups and branches, the dedicated staff who work in Sheffield, the trustees and our partners and collaborators – for their continued support and commitment during this period of transition. As we approach the end of the year, I wish everyone a restful and happy holiday period.

Prof Alastair Owens - Chair of Trustees, The Geographical Association