The real trick is to make it relevant to kids. That makes it easier, but I think that the issue is that teachers are more concentrated on targets and exam results. So they exclude kids who will drag down the figures and schools will reject applications from kids that will lower their results. Though the assessments should penalise schools for such behaviour. I enjoyed geography at school, but then I was not undergoing continuous assessment.

It was easier in the old days when you just got a globe - pointed to all the red bits and said “Kids that’s Ours”

Yes well lots of people think its a very log way to Cornwall and wouldn't cross the Tamar as a result.

It's 5 minutes for you Alun! It's not like you're in the North! Get your ass down here and sample the delights.

From where I am it is an awkward journey, but I am sure that I will visit Cornwall again.

Even 25 years ago, when I was at school, the geography we were taught had nothing to do with the location of English cities. Oxbow lakes and conurbations, yes. The whereabouts of Swindon, not so much.

Crikey, I was in school only 7 years ago, and basic locations of (predominantly English) cities and counties was most definitely on the agenda.

You're the only one then.

Perhaps education improved in that single area in the last 20 yrs

Was your school particularly well funded?

I've a feeling we may have learnt about cities and much more had the teachers not spent so much time with disruptive kids and trying to work out how three people could share one book and all the tables only seated two....

well about 3 hours actually and we have been many many times. We tend to come down "out of season" as the tourists are a pain

Good good. Out of season is my favourite time too

Now to me that seems like a waste of time teaching. I would say I have a decent enough knowledge of the locations of most UK places, and I was never taught it directly. It's something I'm more than capable of picking up myself, thankyouverymuch. I don't need no state to teach me the simple stuff - just teach me the stuff I don't know I don't know!

We were never taught 'local' geography either, more about the specifics in and around geological locations...

Personally, I've little desire to see the rest of NI (or even the Republic) either. And you can almost guarantee it'll be p1ssing down no matter where you go

They did not teach me local towns but we did cover the erosion of the South Downs and did a field trip to see some examples of oxbow lakes etc.