Special Offer for all Early Career Teachers of Geography
Joint membership of the Geographical Association and the Royal Geographical Society with IBG is available at a special rate to NQTs and teachers within their first five years of teaching. As a member you will receive:
- GA magazine 3 times a year
- Online access to the RGS-IBG Geography in the News website
- Online access to the RGS-IBG lecture programme
- Online only access to GA and RGS-IBG Journals
- Discount on GA Annual Conference and Exhibition
- Discounts on the CPD programmes and publications offered by both organisations
- Professional recognition induction programmes for Chartered Geographer and Geography Quality Marks
Application forms can be downloaded from:
OFSTED Report - Geography in Schools: Changing Practice
The report, published in January 2008, evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of geography in primary and secondary schools. At a time when geographical issues constantly make the headlines, there is some evidence of decline in provision in schools. This report shows the characteristics of good geography and fieldwork, and suggests what needs to be done to make the subject more relevant and enjoyable in all schools.
The report can be downloaded via the following link:
Managing Flood Risk
The GA have launched a new section to their website - 'Managing Flood Risk' - developed in conjunction with the Environment Agency.
There are currently two UK-based case studies, with two more planned for the coming months.
Each case study includes several pages of original material plus a wide range of downloadable resources including photographs, maps, ITN news footage, newspaper reports, Met Office data and Environment Agency information.Visit:
The Prime Minister's Global Fellowship
This new fellowship programme will offer 100 school and college leavers the chance to visit some of the major countries of the new global economy, starting in 2008 with China, India and Brazil.
The tailor-made six week programme is made up of three parts:
- A two week cultural programme - introducing them to life and language in the country they are visiting
- Two weeks in a school or college - where they can meet local young people, help as a language assistant with spoken English and pursue an action research project of their choice
- Two weeks as the guest of a global company - where they will get an understanding of how an international business works and how their social responsibility projects impact the community they operate in.
On their return, the Fellows will be asked to tell the story of their trip in the school or college they attended in the UK and elsewhere within their own community or neighbourhood. They will also be invited to Downing Street to share what they have learnt with the Prime Minister and with one another.
For further details, and to download an application form go to:
Become a Chartered Geographer
The RGS with IBG offer the Chartered Geographer award. CGeog (Teacher) is for geography teachers who can demonstrate competence, experience and professionalism in their teaching and who are maintaining their professional standards through ongoing CPD.
If you have a geography degree or equivalent, have been teaching geography for at least six years, have an ongoing commitment to CPD and embed your professional development in your teaching, you are an ideal candidate for Chartered Geographer (Teacher).
For more information please contact cgeogteacher@rgs.org or call 0207 591 3053.
Secondary Geography
You will be well aware of the changes to the secondary school curriculum and examination systems in the next few years. Here are links to keep you up to date with what is happening at each key stage.
Key Stage 3
New National Curriculum programme of study for KS3 geography is here.
This is to be implemented in stages, starting with
Y7 in September 2008. More information on the new National Curriculum for KS3 is here:
GCSE
New GCSE qualification and subject criteria are now available in draft form on the QCA website. QCA are keen for a wide range of stakeholders, particularly teachers, subject communities and awarding bodies, to contribute to revisions prior to the publication of the agreed criteria via their online consultation.
The regulators want to:
- Update the content of the GCSEs
- Encourage innovative teaching, learning and assessment
- Incorporate key elements of 14–19 curriculum developments
- Ensure that the revised GCSEs complement the new Diplomas
- Revise the assessment arrangements to provide stretch and challenge for all learners and make assessment less formulaic and predictable
- Ensure that standards are maintained.
Find out more on the QCA website:
A Level
New specifications (for teaching to start in September 2008) can be found on the exam board's websites as follows:
Secondary Geography Quality Mark
The Key Stage 3 Secondary Geography Quality Mark is a framework which has been developed by the Geographical Association to enable subject leaders to raise the standards of geography in school, supporting the teaching of quality geography and promoting department leadership and management.
The overarching strength of the Quality Mark is its capacity to act as an effective 'lever of change' for the development of geography in the schools that take part.
Undertaking the Quality Mark engages all staff in the department in a process of reflection about how well the department is achieving its aims and where its priorities lie. The template is based on the whole school Self-Evaluation Form (SEF), well-honed by Ofsted, thus matching the generic SEF which each head teacher teacher goes through annually in reviewing the school's work. Nothing could be more relevant to a subject leader's consideration of how to act next, to improve his or her department.
The whole team takes part in an ongoing process of curriculum review, identifying priorities for departmental CPD, sharing good practice around a framework for encouraging creative and critical thinking about curriculum making and developing a dynamic, relevant KS3.
Find out more at:
Primary News
Barnaby Bear Gets a Facelift!
The official Barnaby Bear website has been given a facelift and new content has been added:
Primary Geography Quality Mark
The Primary Geography Quality Mark is an award for primary schools who wish to achieve recognition for the quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development, learning and teaching in their school.
Your school can start working towards the award straight away. There are two periods of registration, submission of evidence and moderation each year (October and March).
For more information see the Geographical Association website:
If you are interested in achieving the award please contact Naomi Rose, the County Adviser for Geography for further advice.
Email: naomi.rose@hertscc.gov.uk
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