It is the responsibility of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) to set criteria for A levels, including whether specifications may or may not include coursework. Coursework is only allowed under subject criteria where it is the most valid way of assessing subject specific skills, and where it can be robustly assessed.
The decision to remove coursework from A level geography was made following extensive consultation by QCA. The subject criteria continue to strongly recommend that fieldwork is included at AS level, and to require it at A2 level. However, this fieldwork must be externally assessed rather than assessed through coursework.