Friday was rather exciting; a chance to head to the Institute of Education (IoE) at University College London (UCL) to meet up with Dr Alex Standish, Senior Lecturer in Geography Education, and other Fawcett Fellows. With my daughter heading off to university this year, I have a little more time to dedicate to myself and advancing my career, so I …
Time to reconvene … first Primary Geography Subject Leader Network meeting of this academic year
This year, things will be slightly different. It is proposed to collaborate with local Teaching School Hubs, universities and the Gloucestershire Research School to offer a series of six events, held in situ at various venues or virtually, throughout the academic year. Not only are a number of fantastic guest speakers booked already, but a day at a local Field …
One for teachers before the end of Term 2
Another GlosGeog event before the end of Term 2, but this time aimed at teachers. We were very lucky to be able to secure Dr Rebecca Kitchen, Head of Professional Development at the Geographical Association (GA), to update us about Ofsted’s EIF and the Curriculum and Assessment Review (CAR), contemplating what it means for geography. Becky had delivered an in …
Time for another Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting!
A busy couple of weeks ahead for me, engaging with over 60 schools, either virtually or in situ, as part of the first round of Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meetings this academic year. Due to Sandra Parker’s growing commitments at GLOSSI (Gloucestershire’s School Improvement Service), the baton for oversight of primary geography has now been handed to the …
What a fantastic fieldwork week at North Nibley C of E Primary School, Gloucestershire!
Following the successful submission of a Frederick Soddy Schools Award application (https://www.rgs.org/in-the-field/grants/teacher-grants/frederick-soddy-schools-award), North Nibley C of E Primary School were fortunate to receive sufficient funding to facilitate a fieldwork week for all 110 pupils from EYFS to Year 6. The Headteacher, Mr Steve Hodgkinson, and myself met together via Zoom and corresponded by e-mail several times prior to the week …
Dr Rebecca Kitchen visits GlosGeog!
GlosGeog, Gloucestershire’s local Geographical Association (GA) branch, was fortunate to receive a visit from Dr Rebecca Kitchen, Head of Professional Development at the Geographical Association (GA), this afternoon. The event, aimed at secondary teachers, ECTs and trainees, was kindly hosted by Odyssey Teaching School Hub based at Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham. After formally welcoming and introducing everybody, I handed …
Twilight CPD session (Oliver Tomkins C of E VA Schools)
This afternoon, it was the turn of staff at Oliver Tomkins C of E VA Schools in Swindon, Wiltshire, to receive some twilight training. Having previously worked with their Geography and History Subject Leaders and had lengthy discussions with the Headteacher, I had a clear insight into their current whole school geography and history curricula, plus cohort and surroundings. Between us, we …
History’s turn now!
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 …