TES piece on GCSE Natural History

This TES piece includes some elements of the responses to the  consultation on the proposed subject content of the new GCSE Natural History from the RGS and the GA.

Steve Brace of the GA is quoted in the piece on some of the elements of the GA's response to the consultation.

These include concerns over the shortage of teachers who might teach the new specification, and the fieldwork elements of the course. The fieldwork may be difficult for some schools due to their location, but may also adversely affect the habitats that students are being asked to investigate.

The Curriculum Review - the direction of travel.

Steve Brace of the Geographical Association has been the lead drafter of the new draft geography curriculum. Quite a responsibility.

He has written this piece for Teachwire which gives little away that wasn't already known.

GCSE Natural History Consultation on proposed subject content

Thanks to Steve Brace for sharing a link to a post on the GA's website which shares the main themes of their response to the current consultation of the proposed subject content, which closes on the 4th of September.

GA Conference video... and GA Strategy video

Two videos from the GA were released this week.

The GA Conference video is here. There's a few shots of the audience at mine and Matt Podbury's session along the way.

There are also new Summer issues of the GA's journals, and the GA Magazine has a conference review as well.

Steve Brace has also shared a video linked to the new GA Strategy which runs from 2026-31.

The GA's new Strategy focuses on:

1. Supporting geography as a subject - particularly at a time of curriculum change
2. Supporting primary and secondary teachers
3. Inspiring and supporting the Next Generation of Geographers

GA Conference 2026 #1: Day 1

The 2026 GA Conference was held at Sheffield College - a departure from the usual venue at Sheffield Hallam University. This is a short 10 minute walk from the railway station - going out the back entrance. 

I drove up from Norfolk and immediately started seeing people I knew: former work colleagues, present work colleagues, Steve Brace the GA CEO and exhibitors from various publishers and organisations I've worked with over the years. 

The weather was warming up very quickly!

It was good to see the Collins stand had a prominent display of our Discover Geography books, and also the iGCSE Geography book that I was series editor for which was published last March. There was some publicity and order forms for the books as well, so hopefully they will be heading into classrooms soon. 

The Rayburn Tours gang were there with lots of free posters. 

After some chats it was out for the "long standing members" meal, which I am invited to each year. This time we had a minibus to take us to the restaurant in the Winter Gardens, opposite the Crucible Theatre, which was getting prepared for the World Championship Snooker there, starting next weekend. It was a lovely meal and there were 8 former GA Presidents sat at the table, and some other guests and people. All the Presidents are featured on the GA Presidents blog of course. 

One idea I had is to revisit those I can and ask them for an update perhaps.

I had the chance to catch up with several people I only see at this event.

Back to the conference venue, where I had a chat about the National Festival of Fieldwork in June.

I then went to check-in to my hotel and came back via the Graves Gallery and Winter Gardens and some light shopping.

The GA Awards went well. It was good to see David Gardner received the Honorary Membership.

Time for Geography went away with a whole host of Silver Awards.

A Geography Champion award went to Mark and Jay the hosts of the Map Men YouTube Channel, which has over 1.7 million subscribers and authors of the book 'This Way Up' which I read towards the end of last year, who were sat in front of me.

The GA's new Strategy 2026-2031

Every five years the Geographical Association releases a new Strategy.

I was involved in the creation of the previous strategy during my time as GA Vice President and President. It involves the Governing Body.

More than ever, young people need to be geographically literate in order to respond positively to a world of changing challenges and opportunities.

Geography helps young people better understand their world and how to successfully live within it.

The Geographical Association’s (GA) strategy for 2026–31 responds to these challenges. We will focus on three priorities:

• Advocating for the value of geography
• Supporting teachers
• Supporting the next generation of geographers

Read the full document from the link on this page.

There is a new Vision and Purpose.

GEO Resources moved to the main GA website - along with the GA Blog

The GEO project: Geography Education Online is ending and the resources that were created for it - including some that I was pleased to work on - are all being added to the GA website for members to access.

Details in the image below - shared earlier by Steve Brace.

Use the filters here to find them.

Update

The GA's Blog is now also on the GA's main website.

CoastCraft - Award winning

A reminder to check out CoastCraft!!

Learn about the features of coastal landscapes along with coastal processes.

Understand the characteristics of sand dune ecosystems, sand dune succession and how sand dunes are used as a nature-based solution for flooding and coastal erosion.

Explore a range of coastal management strategies to respond to predicted changes resulting from climate change and sea level rise.

Explore and visualise a range of potential futures influenced by the interactions with communities and stakeholders and the choices made by coastal managers. 

And did I mention that we won a BETT award!

The Judges praised Coast Craft as an 

“authentic digital learning experience that brings climate change and coastal geography vividly to life. By connecting curriculum content with real-world data and presenting it in a Minecraft-style environment, it enables pupils to learn through interactive simulations and understand the future impact of decision-making."


I worked on Coastcraft to create the Teacher Pack and also inform the creators about the best way to link to the curriculum, and what it should focus on. This work was as a consultant to the Geographical Association - another of many projects I've completed.

EDINA opens up Digimap for Schools to 1 million more pupils

A press release from the Ordnance Survey.

I've worked with Ordnance Survey and EDINA for many years.

Ordnance Survey (OS) will reach out to 1,800 primary and secondary schools serving some of the most deprived areas of Great Britain to offer a free education resource for the teaching of geography.

Digimap for Schools was launched just over 15 years ago in partnership between OS and EDINA, at The University of Edinburgh. It is a flagship digital platform that provides interactive mapping tools for the teaching of geography, and other core education areas, in primary and secondary schools. It helps pupils and teachers develop digital and data skills, and explore modern and historical maps as well as aerial imagery. 

Around one-sixth of schools in England - more than 18 million pupils - have used the service since 2020.

The new offer means Digimap for Schools will reach more than one million schoolchildren in the most deprived areas across Britain, alongside three million who currently have access to the service. A programme of training will also be offered to educators, alongside the development of a new network of practising teachers to provide effective teaching support.

Free access to Digimap for Schools was previously sponsored by the government for schools rated Ofsted 3 or 4. This year, the eligibility criteria has been widened to include 1,800 schools in the lowest 8% of deprived areas in England and, for the first time, in Scotland and Wales. This will include cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, and Glasgow. 

The new offer has been secured by Government Digital Service, under the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement.

"It is fundamental that we support the effective teaching of geography in schools, building confidence when using interactive mapping tools, and fostering critical technical skills to grow our future geographers. We are delighted to announce the extension of Digimap for Schools to those with the greatest need in England, Scotland, and Wales. We encourage headteachers to take advantage of this offer and introduce Digimap for Schools into their classrooms this year."

Nick Bolton, Chief Executive of Ordnance Survey

© Crown copyright and database rights. Ordnance Survey 2026
Secondary school pupils working with Digimap for Schools

“Geography plays an important role in helping young people understand the world around them. Our members tell us that digital tools like Digimap for Schools are invaluable for geography teachers to enrich the curriculum learning experience and put data analysis directly into the hands of pupils. We welcome this initiative for schools in deprived areas, as well as the expansion into Scotland and Wales, and encourage all eligible schools to sign-up."

Steve Brace, Chief Executive of the Geographical Association

Digimap for Schools is aligned with the national curricula across Great Britain and enables students aged five to 16 and above to understand and investigate their world while gaining crucial digital and data skills. It is supported by access to a huge library of free learning resources, also available in Welsh, that are designed to aid teaching and support teachers in preparing impactful and interesting lessons, as well as allowing for student-led self-study. 

OS recently published an impact report on its commitment to lifelong learning in geography and geospatial. It also collaborates closely with organisations such as the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Association on a wide range of activities including the teaching of geography in schools, educational outcomes, and promoting geography.

Headteachers of eligible schools will be directly contacted about the new offer in the next month. For further information about the Digimap for Schools free access scheme visit: https://digimapforschools.edina.ac.uk/about/imd/.

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.

Judith Mansell RIP

I heard the sad news today that Judith Mansell has passed away.

She was the first Education Officer of the Royal Geographical Society. She authored materials which are still available on the website to this day. She was involved in the creation of the Discovering Antarctica and Discovering the Arctic websites - the former was recently given a fresh relaunch at an event at the RGS.

She also worked on the Unlocking the Archives project - a major undertaking which received a large sum of National Lottery Funding.

She also helped with the creation of the Geography Ambassadors Scheme.

She was also a judge in the early years of the Young Geographer of the Year award, along with the tireless Rex Walford.

From the RGS News - 1999

She held the post from 1999 to 2010, working latterly with Steve Brace.

Prior to that she taught geography at Bishop's Hatfield Girls School for 11 years, having been educated at Harrow County Girls School.

She was on the project team for the Digital Learning for Key Stage 4 project which happened during the Action Plan for Geography, and was also a Trustee of the GA for some time. This was a joint project between the RGS and the GA and she was one of the people to work to support both organisations, something I think is really important at this time. She was also involved in the Young People's Geographies project in an advisory role, and contributed to the GA's journals as well, as well as TES.

She contributed to many conferences and CPD sessions during her time with both organisations, and also on committees of the AGI.

In Jeremy Krause's GA Presidential biography he talks about her contribution below:

Membership and Professional Development Committee (M&PD)
Prior to becoming Junior Vice President in 1999 I served as Hon Secretary to the GA’s M&PD Committee Chaired by Judy Mansell. This Committee no longer exists, but at this time it played the role described in its title. It carried overall responsibility for Membership and Professional Development activities such as Conference. It also held an overview of Local GA Branches. Each of these areas had a Hon Officer such as Paul McDermott for the GA’s Annual Conference. When it was decided to close down the Committee its activities moved either to Education Standing Committee (Education Group) or to paid staff at GA HQ.

She also wrote an obituary for David Wright - who contributed a great deal to Norfolk geography during his time at UEA.

From the GA Magazine, 2018 - talking about her work as the GA Branches Officer.

Update

Thanks to Claire Brown, who worked with Judy when she started out at the RGS. She says:

Judy was the Society's first Education Officer and the work that she started in that role has shaped our education programme today. Judy started our CPD programme for teachers, A Level study days, the first Young Geographer of the Year competition, and so much more.

An official RGS obituary of Judy is here.

And here's an appreciation of Judy by Steve Brace from the GA Magazine's Autumn 2025 issue.

RGS / GA Festival of Geography

Do you like festivals? Course you do...

Like geography? Of course - love it!

How about a Festival of Geography! Yes please!

The Festival of Geography brings together colleagues from the Royal Geographical Society and Geographical Association (GA) for a joint celebration of geographical knowledge and understanding.

This special event is an opportunity for teachers at all stages to come together and share their passion for geography. Over a full day, attend sessions on creative and practical ideas for the classroom and get subject updates from experts in the field.

The day is bookended with sessions from the GA and RGS-IBG on the future of geography teaching and its value as a subject for students of all ages.

The festival consists of a full day of talks and workshops held live at the RGS-IBG in London on 16 June 2025.

Programme

• 10.00 - Welcome
• 10.15 - Geography: the Big Picture (Steve Brace, GA Chief Executive)
• 10.45 - Keynote lecture: Mark Maslin (University College London)
• 11.30 - Tea and coffee
• 11.45 - Creative curriculum ideas (Fiona Sheriff)
• 12.45 - Lunch
• 13.30 - Practical fieldwork ideas (Chloë Searl)
• 14.30 - Tea and coffee
• 14.45 - Subject knowledge sessions (Anjana Khatwa and guest)
• 15.45 - Choose Geography: embedding careers education into your teaching (Alan Parkinson, VP Education Royal Geographical Society)
• 16.15 - Close

Full details and a booking link can be found on this link.

I hope to see many of you down at the 'Home of Geography' for this special event...

It's really good to have a joint event again. 

I was part of the Action Plan for Geography team - at a time when we used to work more closely together. 

GA / IoE seminar

On the 4th of Decemember, the Geographical Association and Institute of Education held a joint seminar exploring the geography curriculum in the light of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

I was invited to speak at the event on behalf of the RGS, but was unable to attend as I already had a previous engagement, so Catherine Souch kindly stepped in to give a summary of the work we had done on our submission to the call for evidence.

The seminar was chaired by Dr Alex Standish (IOE) with contributions from:

• Helen Martin (Primary Head)
• Hina Robinson (Head of Geography and GA President)
• Steve Brace (Chief Executive at the GA)
• Dr Catherine Souch (Head of Research and Higher Education RGS)
• Eleanor Rawling (consultant in geographical education)

The discussion explores the current geography curriculum and its GCSE and A level specifications at a time of curriculum review, alongside the progression and set-backs of the geography curriculum since its introduction in the late 1980s. Eleanor Rawling spoke at the event and she has been involved in previous iterations of the National Curriculum and worked on the National Curriculum Framework for the GA.

A recording of the contributions and Q&A is available using this link - you will need to login to Zoom in order to see it. Thanks to the GA for sharing this.

https://ucl.zoom.us/rec/share/_UX_SqYZHp1EqnnyX2DMC2QRFLB4hrsoyEBXcR_It4w1GXOGVBveh-Jkae77HQIf.KnFHjvaxWjZEouf7

Passcode: D37Zw#@+

You can watch Catherine's contribution by fast-forwarding to 34'30". She sums up the work we did in ten key bullet points.

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.

GeogPod 84 with Steve Brace

Episode 84 of GeogPod features Steve Brace. Listen below, or visit the website.

Steve Brace on the value of fieldwork

Over the years Chief Executives of the GA have engaged with newspapers and had letters published at various time.

If you missed yesterday's Guardian (as I do out of term time), here's the letter from Steve Brace on the importance of fieldwork...

The GA's new Chief Executive: Steve Brace

An important announcement from the GA today.

Alan Kinder's replacement was announced.

The full announcement said:

The Geographical Association (GA) is delighted to announce that Steve Brace has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

Steve is already well known to the geography education community having previously been Head of Education and Outdoor Learning at the Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers) (RGS (with IBG)). He started his career as a geography teacher at a London comprehensive, moving on to roles at the charity Action Aid and the Commonwealth Institute, before joining the RGS (with IBG). Whether via social media or through regular contributions to the Times Educational Supplement and other newspapers, Steve has become an important and trusted spokesperson for geography.

Professor Alastair Owens, the GA’s Chair of Trustees, commented:

‘Steve Brace is a leading figure in the geography education community, and I am thrilled that he will be joining the GA. He brings deep experience of supporting geography teachers from primary to A level, has been influential in shaping education policy relevant to our discipline, has built many partnerships and raised funds to develop new initiatives, and has played a key role in making geography more diverse and inclusive.

Steve’s energy and strategic vision will enable the GA to address the needs of its members in responsive and imaginative ways and ensure that it continues to be a powerful voice in advocating for the relevance and value of a geographical education in a rapidly changing world. The GA and geographical education are in very good hands.’

Steve Brace said:

‘I am delighted to be joining the GA as its Chief Executive and to lead the organisation at such an important time for our subject. My first GA conference was in 1989. Since then, I have worked alongside many GA colleagues, its trustees and members – and long admired its work.

The GA, and our subject community as a whole, have much to celebrate. There have been significant improvements in geography teaching across primary and secondary schools. Exam entries have increased and geographers are receiving greater public recognition.

However, there is more work needed to strengthen the supply of subject specialist geography teachers, to protect and develop fieldwork, advance equality, diversity and inclusion and better connect geography’s value to all young people’s aspirations. The GA, through its own work and in partnership, has a vital role to play in addressing such challenges. I am pleased to be joining during Denise Freeman’s Presidential year and look forward to working with her, Vice President Hina Robinson, the entire GA community and its collaborators to address these priorities.’

Steve will join the GA staff on 25 March 2024 in good time for the Annual Conference and Exhibition, themed ‘Geography for Everyone’, which takes place at the University of Manchester, 4–6 April 2024.

🎉Congratulations to Steve Brace, our former colleague, on his appointment as CEO at @The_GA.

We are all looking forward to the opportunities to collaborate more closely between our organisations. https://t.co/QVRn31OzGg

— Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (@RGS_IBG) March 14, 2024

A 1991 Award

Steve Brace recently shared an image of the GA Award that he received at the Conference in 1991, signed by the President of that year: Eleanor Rawling, and a former colleague Frances Soar.

Now back at work having been off for quite a while, & looking forward to catching up with #geography colleagues at #GAconf21.

Emptied a draw recently & found this relic from the 1991 conference.! #chembakolli @ActionAidUK pic.twitter.com/UQoeyQ7GyS

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) April 11, 2023