Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes
Improving geography fieldwork provision and outcomes
29/04/2025
Online
Explore what effective secondary fieldwork looks like, plan for progression and get useful practical examples to implement in your curriculum.
Overview
Course overview
Fieldwork is an essential component of geography education and yet students tend to under-perform in this aspect of their GCSE examinations (Rynne et. al., 2020). In this course, Chloe explores how and why it is important to plan for the progression of fieldwork enquiries from years 7 to 11 by embedding it within the curriculum, and how this can improve outcomes. Sessions focus on discussing what effective fieldwork provision and progression looks like, making the most of the local environment and using unfamiliar fieldwork contexts to reinforce understanding.
Meet your course leader, Chloë.
Supporting research/references
The 2023 Ofsted Geography Subject Review ‘Getting our Bearings’ highlighted the need for teachers to plan for progression in fieldwork and associated procedural knowledge. Mapping how students access fieldwork and wider enquiry skills across the key stages allows teachers to make clearer plans for student development across the whole subject.
The chapter on fieldwork in the Handbook of Secondary Geography (Widdowson, 2017) explores the purposes, approaches, benefits and future possibilities of learning geography through fieldwork.
Key learning aims
- To better understand what effective fieldwork provision looks like and how it can be embedded within the geography curriculum.
- To critically reflect on the use of the local environment and unfamiliar fieldwork contexts to develop your provision.
Expected impact on teachers
- Increased knowledge and understanding of what effective fieldwork provision looks like.
- Increased understanding of how the local environment can be used to develop fieldwork enquiries.
- Increased knowledge and understanding of how using unfamiliar fieldwork contexts can reinforce student understanding.
Expected impact on student outcomes
- Fieldwork embedded in the geography curriculum will prepare students more effectively for their GCSE exams, increasing their confidence.
- Students will consequently develop their geographical knowledge and skills and be more likely to answer fieldwork questions well.
Course programme
This course consists of three sessions, across a full day (9.30 – 15.30) each focusing on key concepts in secondary geography fieldwork:
- Session 1 – What does effective fieldwork look like?
Six elements of successful fieldwork across all key stages and an opportunity to reflect on what they mean in the context of your school.
- Session 2 – Planning fieldwork at curriculum level
Progression in fieldwork from key stage 2 to 5 and how we can teach 'unfamiliar fieldwork contexts and wider fieldwork skills at GCSE.
- Session 3 – Fieldwork in the local area
Considerations needed when specifically planning fieldwork in a local area as well as a comprehensive range of activities for teachers to try.
Fees
Location
Online