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 …
geography southwest conference goes for an upgrade!
Mid-June and time for the geography southwest Annual Conference, held, once again, at the University of the West of England (UWE) on the northern outskirts of Bristol, but today in a new venue, the Enterprise Park 1 building. Simon Ross, John Davidson, plus Dr Harry West and colleagues at UWE, had done a sterling job of pulling everything together. My …
Virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting (3)
With Term 5 coming to a close, it was time for us all to meet up again, albeit virtually for our final Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting of this academic year. We were a small group today as several of our regulars were involved in post-SATs treats/residentials, unable to secure cover to allow them to attend in real …
Geography GIS day
Today saw me head over to the University of Gloucestershire’s Francis Close Hall Campus in Cheltenham for a geography GIS day. GlosGeog, Gloucestershire’s local Geographical Association (GA) branch, had supported this event through sourcing input for two of the workshops and promotion. Whilst GlosGeog had been keen to organise a day earlier in the academic year, this was not feasible …
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 …
Time for geography southwest’s annual secondary conference!
Another year has passed. It was time to head off to the University of the West of England (UWE), just north of Bristol, for geography southwest’s annual secondary conference, organised so efficiently by Simon Ross and John Davidson in conjunction with Dr Harry West and colleagues in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. This is one of the highlights …
Virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting (3)
Thursday morning saw our final virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting of this academic year, which had a focus on quality assurance (QA). Presenting alongside myself was Mark Enser, former National Lead for Geography for Ofsted as well as an HMI and now offering independent support to schools. We were joined by representatives from over 30 schools across …
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 …
Time to practise some geographical skills, along with a spot of human geography
‘These highly interactive webinars [offered by the Geographical Association (GA)] provide primary teachers with the substantive knowledge to enable them to deliver relevant, engaging and stimulating geography lessons. Focusing on different subjects each session, this course provides practical, transferable ideas to trial before rolling them out in the classroom. Take this knowledge even further by exploring the multiple connections, stereotypes …