Curriculum reform: a plea to geographers

Curriculum reform: A plea to geographers to be mindful of our pace
As we enter a period of curriculum reform,
Let’s strive for careful, considered changes as the norm,
Curriculum itself is a route, not a race,
And though change must come, we must be mindful of the pace

Let’s not run before we can walk,
Instead let’s take our time and talk:
What does it say? What must we do?
What does it not say? What decisions are left for you?

Let’s not lose the hard work of recent years,
By scrambling at speed for the sake of Ofsted fears,
The National Curriculum does not bound us tight,
Rather, it takes hard work and careful thought to get right

Just because something is named,
does not mean our creativity must be tamed,
There are so many ways that rich geography can be taught,
And your own best path to progression must be sought,
Where is the space to flex and bend?
Think critically about this- don’t just follow the trend

What would work for your students and you?
Not just what’s being shared as shiny and new,
Please, no more superficial ‘Africa’ topics taught in schools,
Our students deserve better than that; they’re not fools

So, as we enter a period of curriculum reform,
Let’s strive for careful, considered changes as the norm,
Curriculum itself is a route, not a race,
And though change must come, we must be mindful of the pace