Geography Teaching Today

• Expect that our assessors will come back to you for further clarification on some items; this happens in most cases and shows the stringency of our assessment with regards to the requirements.
• Try not to send documents which have clearly been used for applications for other things and which are not directly focussed on the CGeog application.
• Padding out the application with supplementary material (e.g. classroom units of work, OFSTED comments) which only demonstrate that you are successfully fulfilling responsibilities in a job for which you are already being paid will not help your application in any way.
• Writing a personal statement which is simply an expression of enthusiasm for geography is not enough; the statement needs to focus on why you wish to be a Chartered Geographer and how your track record is relevant to the requirements (particularly section 5 in the requirements document).
• Information about travel and hobbies is not appropriate.
• Ensure at least one reference will refer to your work in geography beyond your immediate school context
• Include evidence of how you have ‘gone the extra mile' for geography in situations beyond your school (e.g. published articles and books, the leading of local meetings, initiation of new projects, committee work for RGS-IBG/GA etc).
• End with a statement of how you think that the CGeog award will be useful to you in the future.
• Describe a range of activities in detail, particularly those which show you are having an impact in the wider geographical community
• Prove that you are advancing geography above and beyond your job description and everyday work requirements
• There is no need to mention your school / university education in your Professional Self Evaluation Report; details of this in your CV will suffice.
• Please do not hesitate to email your application through to c.wheeler@rgs.org for Claire to read through and offer feedback before final submission.

Several of our Final Assessors have put some thoughts down about how they assess and what they look for. These include:

1. There is usually comparatively little difference between the recommendations of the initial and final assessors.

2. Sometimes there are significant differences between assessors 1 and 2, reflecting judgements about particular applications. This is actually a strength of the multiple-assessor scheme. Where there are questions that are difficult to resolve we employ a third assessor and even a further final assessor. In rare cases, we have also consulted other CGeogs with specialist knowledge of particular teaching fields. Such a process usually involves requests to the applicant for further specific information to clarify areas of doubt.

3. Where necessary, in judging whether more detail is required, the final assessors tend to be conservative because they have to be convinced that there is a complete record on file which fully complies with the requirements of the Privy Council.

4. Some specific problems which have recently arisen and which are not easy to resolve concern:

a) Is the Professional context sufficient? Is there a level of experience and professional responsibility demonstrated that goes beyond the requirements of their job?

(b) Has the case been made for CGeog status? Is there explicit evidence to indicate that its value as a professional qualification will be realised through interaction with other professionals?

(c) Is there enough evidence of external impact? An applicant could be meeting the basic requirements of their job description well but may not appear to have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to promoting geography through outside activities or within their work beyond their current job description. This may because of the actual situation or because information has not been presented sufficiently clearly.

(d) Are such external impacts given with sufficient details? e.g. Topics and audiences for external CPD and training. What collaborative work has been undertaken? Is there evidence of the quality and success of these activities? What form of engagement has there been with national or local geographically-related organisations, including the RGS-IBG and GA? In some cases, where applicants tell us that they have given CPD training, we should be told dates, organisations, locations etc.