The London Geography Alliance: Re-connecting the school subject with the university discipline

The London Geography Alliance was established to provide a network of subject-based support to primary and secondary schools, by linking teachers and university lecturers. Workshops and fieldwork were conducted over a 17-month period to address different aspects of the geography curriculum. The effects of the project were evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary school teachers improved their knowledge of geography and their confidence to identify and facilitate geographical learning. Secondary school teachers enhanced their subject knowledge, developed new ideas, schemes of work and resources for teaching, and improved their use of fieldwork techniques. The project showed how teaching in schools can be improved through making links to university disciplines.