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. Fieldwork’s importance is reflected in it being a requirement of the geography National Curriculum at key stages 1, 2 and 3 and a requirement of the geography GCSE and A level specifications. Yet we are at a pivotal moment for geography fieldwork in schools.

This report draws on the views of more than 400 teachers who responded to GA consultations on fieldwork and the geography curriculum, as well as wider research, evidence from schools’ submissions to the GA’s Geography Quality Mark accreditation and discussions with geography teachers and key stakeholders, in order to provide a vision of high-quality geography fieldwork for all.