LONDON - Geography teaching in schools was slammed as "mediocre" in a damning report by government inspectors on Thursday which said children are not learning about climate change or eco-sustainability.

Neither are enough pupils going on field trips, it added, partially because of health and safety concerns.

Schools inspectorate Ofsted said there has been a significant fall in the number of children studying the subject at GCSE and A-level.

In primary schools, the achievement of pupils and the quality of teaching is weaker than in other subjects.

"Many primary teachers are still not confident in teaching geography and have little or no opportunity to improve their knowledge of how to teach it," the report added.

It said teachers are not doing enough to help children develop a picture of climate change or learn to lead sustainable lives.

"The global dimension remains underdeveloped in the majority of schools surveyed," it added.

"Frequently, insufficient connections are made between the wider curriculum and the geography curriculum to reinforce pupils' understanding of issues such as global citizenship, diversity, human rights and sustainable development.

The standard of geography teaching to children in the first years of secondary school (Key Stage 3) came in for particular criticism.

"The quality of much teaching and learning in Key Stage 3 continues to be mediocre, often because secondary schools focus resources and expertise on examination classes, assigning non-specialists to teach at Key Stage 3."

It said most schools surveyed fail to fulfil their requirement to provide geography field trips, blaming concerns about health and safety, curriculum time, expertise and budgets.

The government said it is already addressing problems highlighted in the Ofsted report with experts from the Royal Geographical Society and the Geographical Association.

"We are already putting in place better training and support for teachers, a new Key Stage 3 curriculum, a new pilot GCSE, and our 2 million pound Geography Action Plan," said Schools Minister Jim Knight.

"I am confident that the changes we have put in place will revitalise geography for the long term."