The suggestion that an association for geology teachers was first raised at a conference in September 1967 at Keele University. 140 teachers attended that meeting, representing primary and secondary independent and maintained schools as well as teaching staff from museums, universities and colleges.

Soon after, the Association of Teachers of Geology (ATG) was established, with 98 teachers joining in the first year. By the second year and the next conference this number had risen to more than 300. The conference in 1968 became the first annual conference of the association.

Geology was offered nationally as an O Level in schools during this time, but in 1987 the national landscape changed, with the introduction of the National Curriculum in schools. At its core were English, maths and the sciences. With clear overlaps between geography, geology and science the association changed its name in the following year to the Earth Science Teachers' Association to best reflect its relevance across all of these subjects. 

Continuing to grow, ESTA registered as a UK Charity in 1991 and has worked with the same cross section of Earth Science educators ever since.

Throughout our history ESTA has supported UK teachers of Earth Science through research, conferences, courses, in service teacher training and the development of teaching resources.

ESTA is governed by an elected volunteer committee. More information about how we are run, including our trustees and governance documents, can be found in the Governance section.