Joint history and geography exam planned

Humanities could be used to improve citizenship lessons

Geography and history could be turned into a single GCSE subject in a bid to ensure pupils learn some of both.

The Historical Association and the Geographical Association said the new course could be called "Making sense of the modern world".

From next year, all secondary schools in England will have to offer at least one humanities subject at GCSE.

Martin Roberts of the HA said the plans, discussed with the government, would give pupils a "broader outlook".

'Make better sense'

Geography and history would also combine more with citizenship lessons, currently part of the national curriculum.

Mr Roberts said: "This will help children make better sense of the modern world.

"The different disciplines of geography and history will stay distinct. We are not looking to replace citizenship, just to give pupils a better idea of their context.

"I've worked with schools in France, where this is the normal way of doing things."

Under the proposed history syllabus, pupils could study a controversial piece of current legislation, such as student tuition fees reform, against the background of others, such as the Corn Laws and Magna Carta.

Or human rights issues, like those of asylum seekers, could be looked at in the context of the French Revolution or the repeal of anti-Jewish and anti-Catholic laws.

Geography could give a wider perspective on issues such as consumer waste and international refugee movements.

Mr Roberts said: "I feel increasingly strongly that democracy in this country is being devalued.

"Young people do not realise what sacrifices their grandparents and those before them went through to get to the society we have got today.

"History and geography will give a sense of this and make more sense of the current debates."

Entitlement

The new combined history and geography subject would be offered as either a single or double GCSE.

The HA and the GA have spoken to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, the government's exams watchdog, about the proposals.

A provisional curriculum has already been submitted.

A QCA spokesman said: "Under planned changes from 2004 schools will have to offer at least one humanities course for 14 to 16 year olds as part of an entitlement area within the national curriculum.

"At the moment schools can choose not to offer GCSEs in history and geography .

"A joint geography and history GCSE could be a welcome addition to the current range of GCSEs, and new 'hybrid' GCSEs in geography and history which are already under development, providing more choice of qualifications."