The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Ofqual consultation Arrangements for non-exam assessment for qualifications in 2022.
The following is made as a public response from the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).
Questions for each subject change.
Question 1
To what extent do you agree or disagree with our proposal to carry forward specific assessment arrangements for 2021 into 2022 for each GCSE and GCE subject in the section above?
The Society strongly disagrees with Ofqual’s proposals for fieldwork in geography GCSE, AS and A Levels.
Question 2
Do you have any comments on our proposed approach to carrying forward specific assessment arrangements for 2021 into 2022 for each GCSE and GCE subject in the section above?
Fieldwork is an integral part of geography, at all levels, and supports learners to develop distinct geographical knowledge, understanding and skills.
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) commends the hard work of geography teachers and their pupils in dealing with the pandemic since March 2020.
The Society has been heartened to see that – even amidst the challenges of Covid-19 and the additional workload pressures of TAGS – that geography teachers and their students have been returning to the field.
Ofqual’s desire to provide certainty for schools over the coming year through a clear and definitive proposal is welcome. However, the proposals presented are not the right way to move beyond the current position.
Ofqual’s proposals would force schools, for a further 12 months, into the restrictions on fieldwork that they experienced during the earlier stages of the pandemic. A trainee teacher commented, “Fieldwork is at the heart of Geography. Removing the requirements for another year means more students miss out on outdoor learning experiences that are integral to subject understanding and skill progression.”
The proposals also contradict guidance already provided to schools by the Department for Education and will limit the full experiences that young people can gain by studying geography.
The Society’s concerns are shared by ITT geographers, geography teachers, colleagues working in the field and outdoor sectors, and Higher Education geographers.
The Society notes that this consultation has been opened after the Department of Education’s Covid-19 latest guidance which permitted out-of-school day visits (from April 12) and UK based residential visits (from May 17). At the time of writing, the Government has indicated that it is still planning towards the full lifting of Covid-19 restrictions in England from June 21 2021. The proposals do not encourage school fieldwork to return in line with the progress this lifting of restrictions represents.
It is the Society’s firm view that Ofqual’s proposals to remove the requirement to provide written statements that students had the opportunity to undertake fieldwork will be implemented in a negative way that substantially reduces the level of fieldwork – and in some schools may remove it entirely from their 2021-22 course offer.
The Society notes that fieldwork can be the first time that some students, particularly those from Black, Asian and/or minority ethnic or low-income backgrounds, visit the natural environment – and such groups have lower levels of engagement with the natural environment. For example, the Landscapes Review (2019) identified a disconnection between Black, Asian and other minority ethnic children and the natural landscape, and that 18% of children living in the most deprived areas never visited the natural environment at all.
The proposals will, for many schools, place a further 12-month embargo on their willingness and need to draw on the valuable support provided by field study centres. Over 30 field centres sector have permanently closed as a result of Covid-19 and the Society has highlighted concerns over how loss of capacity within this sector may impact on schools well into the future.
GCSE Geography
Ofqual proposal to carry forward from 2021, remove requirements for:
The Society strongly disagrees with this proposal.
GCSE geography specifications are required to provide:
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Different approaches to fieldwork undertaken in at least two contrasting environments (and) include exploration of physical and human processes and the interactions between them
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Fieldwork which is carried out, outside the classroom and school grounds, on at least two occasions.
These mandatory fieldwork requirements have been vital in helping teachers secure the support of school leaders for fieldwork and schools are already starting to resume GCSE fieldwork. One Head Teacher commented: “I was delighted that our Year 10 Geographers were out on Monday (24 May) measuring the River Chess and I see no reason why activities like that should not be possible next year.”
The Society recommends:
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Re-establishment of the requirement to undertake fieldwork in two contrasting locations. The Society believes that this is a reasonable expectation and that it can (with the flexibility provided in point 2 below) be undertaken over the next academic year.
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For the 2021-22 cycle the Society would be content to see flexibility in the locational requirements of where the two examples of fieldwork might be undertaken. For example, the first piece of fieldwork is might be undertaken on the schools’ grounds, whilst the second undertaken further afield.
AS Level Geography
Ofqual proposal to carry forward from 2021, remove requirements:
The Society strongly disagrees with this proposal.
The Society recommends:
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Re-establishment of the requirement to undertake two fieldwork days during the AS Geography course over 2021-22. The Society believes that this is proportionate and a reasonable (necessary) expectation to be undertaken over the next academic year.
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Re-establish the requirement to answer questions in the exam relating to their own fieldwork experience.
A Level Geography
Ofqual proposal to carry forward from 2021:
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Remove requirement for written statement that centres have given students the opportunity to undertake four days of fieldwork.
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Exam boards to review their guidance about their expectations relating to primary data for the non-exam assessment.
The Society strongly disagrees with this proposal.
The four-day requirement is vital to ensuring that fieldwork is an integral and integrated aspect of A Level geography and supports a student’s development of their individual investigation (NEA). The Society supported the inclusion of four days of fieldwork within the current specifications, along with the written requirement to report on this, and the introduction of the NEA.
A Head of Geography from a Sixth Form College noted: “The requirement to take part in four days of fieldwork has strengthened the hand of Geography Departments in negotiating time for students away from the conventional curriculum. It is ironic, as we seem to be returning to near normal classroom teaching, that working outside, a much more Covid-safe option, is proposed to be curtailed. This proposal is harmful to the subject and more importantly those students who sign up to it.”
Specific concerns have also been raised by Higher Education geographers, particularly with regard to the successful transition of A Level geographers onto undergraduate courses. Ofqual’s proposals could create the situation where young people applying to study geography at university in Autumn 2022 could have undertaken no fieldwork in Y11, Y12 and Y13. Professor Jenny Pickerill, University of Sheffield, has commented: “Fieldwork is integral to a high-quality geography education, and to have students arrive at university without these basic skills is worrying and ultimately harms their employability.”
The Society recommends:
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Given the exceptional circumstances there be a minimum requirement of two days fieldwork for A Level geography for the 2021-22 cycle.
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In addition, schools should be permitted to undertake the full four days - if they are in the position to do so.
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Exam boards provide guidance to schools about expectations for primary data for the NEA that make reasonable adjustments in relation to the provision of a minimum entitlement of two days fieldwork
This would provide a minimum fieldwork entitlement of two days for all A Level geography students, whilst enabling those schools who are able to and wish to undertake the full four days fieldwork.
About the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) is the UK’s learned society and professional body for geography and geographers. The Society maintains a strong overview of the discipline, its standing and practice in schools, higher education, and the workplace. This includes the accreditation of geographers and geography programmes through the award of Chartered Geographer to individuals and the Society’s accreditation of undergraduate and Masters level geography programmes.
We advise on, and support the advancement of, geography; the dissemination of geographical knowledge to the public, policy makers and other specialist audiences including teachers, Geography ITT Scholars, and those involved in expeditions and fieldwork; and training and professional development for practising geographers. We work closely with the Department for Education, Ofqual, Ofsted, the awarding organisations, and geography teachers to support good practice in teaching and learning in geographical education.
We have 16,000 Fellows and members and our work currently reaches more than three million people per year. The Society awards the professional accreditation Chartered Geographer, which is awarded to teachers through the Chartered Geographer (Teacher) designation and accredits geography undergraduate programmes. Each year the Society works in a range of ways with teachers and pupils from about half of all English secondary schools which includes work with academies and their respective MATs, free, independent, and maintained schools.
The Society provides a significant programme of activities to support teachers during their training year and entry into the profession. We work regularly with Schools Direct, Teach First and HEI ITT providers to provide subject specialist input into their secondary programmes and have awarded Geography ITT Scholarships to 500 new geography teachers trainees.
Over 2020-21 our CPD programme reached over 2,500 teachers and the Society’s award-winning online resources are available on our website.
Steve Brace s.brace@rgs.org
Head of Education and Outdoor Learning
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)