About the APG
About the Action Plan for Geography
In March 2006 Lord Adonis, the Schools Minister, and Michael Palin announced the Action Plan for Geography (APG).
The APG began as a two-year programme of support and development for school geography led jointly and equally by the Geographical Association and the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). Funding for a further 3 years was announced in April 2008. The APG's goal is:
'To provide everyone - opinion formers, policy makers, parents and pupils - with a clear vision of geography as a relevant, powerful 21st century subject; and to equip teachers with the professional skills and support they need so that pupils enjoy and succeed in geography.'
This goal is ambitious and achievable, and we hope will inspire all teachers of geography to join in and help promote geography in schools.
The APG is for YOU - whether you teach in primary or secondary, specialist or non-specialist, new teacher or with years of experience. You can participate at face-to-face events or use the online materials and resources - or both!
What is geography?
One of the challenging and exciting aspects of geography is its unusually broad base. For example, studying the natural and built features of the earth and the environmental, social and economic processes that shape and change them requires geography to explore a wide variety of physical and human sciences. You might sometimes wonder, therefore, where it begins and ends: what exactly is geography?
The APG aims to answer this question - clearly and succinctly, but inevitably in different ways. We will certainly want to share the enormous scope of the subject, and its power and relevance to all people with an interest in their place in the world. There will be an opportunity for you to have your say too.
The organising concepts
In identifying the organising concepts of geography (see below), APG activities will dovetail with national policy initiatives wherever possible, supporting curriculum developments following the current Key Stage 3 review and syllabus and specification revisions at GCSE and A level.
Geography in Action
The Action Plan aims to inspire and support teachers in their task to inform, engage and enthuse young people with geography. Understanding our world has never been so important.
Geography is distinctive. It educates young people about:
- Place - Where places are and why they are different - showing how social, economic and environmental forces combine to create distinctive and diverse localities
- Connectedness - How physical and human environments are related and how human actions impact on the environment, so helping young people to understand the need for a sustainable future
- Understanding different scales - from local to national to world wide - scale which is essential in understanding interdependence and global change
- Process - Why and how the world's environments, societies and landscapes are changing - geography is dynamic
- Skills - How to investigate the world for themselves - team work in the field, using maps, analyzing data, problem solving, and using ICT - and an awareness of social and environmental responsibility
Cross-cutting themes
The APG will take in a number of ‘cross-cutting themes', such as citizenship and sustainable development, where geography has an important contribution to make in the classroom. Recognising the enormous significance of digital mapping technologies in the world of business and commerce, and the employment opportunities afforded by an awareness of GI applications, the APG will also support the development of classroom strategies to encourage the use of Geographical Information (GI), including its links to local learning and fieldwork.
Government support for geography
In announcing the APG, the Schools Minister made it plain that the government supports the GA and RGS-IBG because we offer teachers both informal and formal subject-focused CPD. One of our targets is a substantial increase in the number of teachers who are paid-up members of the subject community, so they have ready access to subject-focused professional support and recognition.
If you teach geography, therefore, we strongly recommend you to formally join the subject community, either personally or within a group/school membership. Not only is this your route to professional support, development and recognition; it also strengthens the subject community so we can maximize the impact of the Action Plan for Geography.
A significant initiative to flow from the APG is that the GA and RGS-IBG have formed mechanisms to allow for joint membership. The initial joint offer is for early career teachers; we anticipate that over the next few months we will develop the offer for all teachers.
David Lambert, Chief Executive- GA and Rita Gardner, Director- RGS-IBG
Find out how each organisation is involved in the Action Plan
Talk Action
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