This week has been devoted to bespoke CPD. Today, it was a session with the History Subject Leaders at Oliver Tomkins C of E VA Schools near Swindon, Wiltshire (https://www.olivertomkinsschools.co.uk/swindon/primary/olivertomkins). Prior to this morning’s virtual session, there had been a brief conversation and number of e-mails sent between myself, the Headteacher and History Subject Leaders to share documentation and establish ‘where they were at’. This …
A spot of bespoke CPD (geography)
This week has been devoted to bespoke CPD. Today, it was a session with the Geography Subject Leader at Oliver Tomkins C of E VA Schools near Swindon, Wiltshire (https://www.olivertomkinsschools.co.uk/swindon/primary/olivertomkins). Prior to this morning’s virtual session, there had been a brief conversation and number of e-mails sent between myself, the Headteacher and Geography Subject Leader to share documentation and establish …
A morning contemplating geographical skills and fieldwork
Our latest GlosGeog event (a CPD workshop aimed at primary school teachers, ECTs and trainees) was kindly hosted by The Balcarras Trust (https://www.balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk/). On board today were individuals from 18 schools across the county, some current GlosGeog members and others whom we soon recruited! Darren Bailey, from Ordnance Survey (OS), joined us for the first part to provide an overview …
Another round of bespoke CPD!
I really do enjoy working directly with schools, whether virtually or in situ, to review and develop their whole school curriculum offering for geography. Today, I met via Zoom with the Geography Subject Leader at Prince Avenue Academy and Nursery in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex (https://www.princeavenue.co.uk/) to look at ways to integrate effective fieldwork from EYFS to the end of Key Stage …
Back to Foxmoor to think about geographical skills and fieldwork
This afternoon, I returned to Foxmoor Primary School near Stroud in Gloucestershire to deliver the second of two bespoke CPD sessions for all staff (https://www.foxmoorprimary.co.uk/). The request for this two hour twilight was to focus on geographical skills and fieldwork. Not only did they wish to consider current coverage, sequencing and progression of geographical skills and fieldwork across the school, …
Virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting (1)
Time for our first virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting of this academic year. On board this morning were representatives from around 30 schools across England, some familiar faces alongside a few newbies, with others accessing the recording at a later date due to staff sickness, lack of cover, etc. After formally welcoming everyone and introducing myself, I …
Time for the return to school!
Today’s task was a contribution to the whole staff INSET day at Foxmoor Primary School near Stroud, Gloucestershire (https://www.foxmoorprimary.co.uk/). A morning had been allocated to work with classroom teachers and SLT on their whole school curriculum offering for geography. After a formal welcome and introductions, I outlined the aims of the session. Staff then embarked upon a SWOT analysis of …
Another bespoke CPD session before the academic year is out!
It was rather tight, but we managed it! Last week, a bespoke CPD session was requested by the Geography Subject Leader at Milton Road Primary School in Cambridge (https://www.miltonroadschool.org.uk/) and, with only a few free dates left in my diary before schools break up for the summer, we were very fortunate to be able to earmark a mutually convenient time. …
Enhancing cultural diversity in history and geography (EYFS to Year 6)
Time for me to be trained! I attended a similar event that David Weatherly and Sheena Wright delivered last year, but it only focused on EYFS. Whilst there was a little overlap today, it was good to be able to consider this important theme across all Key Stages. David is a School Improvement Adviser and an accomplished teacher at all …
Time to put my history hat on!
It was time to draw on my experience of teaching across the humanities today; some bespoke CPD with a history stance. I had previously worked with the Geography Subject Leader at Lawrence View Primary and Nursery School in Eastwood, Nottingham (https://www.lawrenceviewprimary.co.uk/) and her colleague, with responsibility for history, approached me to see if I could spend some time looking at …