Sadly the prevailing winds that have blown history to the edge of some schools’ timetables, has also swept up geography (“History collecting dust in academies”, September 18). While geography continues to thrive in many schools, with almost 200,000 pupils receiving their geography GCSE results this summer, there are now a number of schools that offer no examination classes in this subject at GCSE or A-level.

The world might seem be to getting ever smaller. Yet, now more than ever, our young people need a greater understanding of it if they are to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges our society faces.

Steve Brace, Head of education, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).