Reforming AS/A2 Physical Geography to Enhance Geographic Scholarship

ABSTRACT

This article argues that significant reforms are required to the post-16 geography curriculum if it is to remain possible to train students to a standard sufficient to enable them to contribute to the contemporary research frontier in physical geography. At present the manner in which material is taught at AS/A2 level gives the impression that it is possible to go up for a physical geography BSc degree at university without having to engage with any real science. However, many of the leading researchers in physical geography have an alternative academic background to geography, which suggests that geography is failing to provide an appropriate training. It is difficult to transform the university curriculum in the light of student expectations gained at school.