Fieldwork CPD
Each summer the RGS-IBG Learning and Leading programme is providing 16 geography teachers from UK schools the opportunity to attend a fieldwork masterclass.
This will bring together teachers to enhance their field teaching skills, to develop and share teaching resources for GCSE and A level and to reflect on how their learning can be adapted to provide quality fieldwork locally to their school. Our aim is to support teachers particularly working in challenging circumstance or where attainment in geography is low. We aim to enhance the skills and motivation of teachers and thus the quality of the geography lessons and fieldwork in their schools.
In 2008 we are providing 16 places for geography teachers to attend a fieldwork summer school based at the Townsend Centre, Swanage over the period 18-22 August 2008. All the costs of attending the summer school, including travel to and from Swanage, will be covered by the Learning and Leading bursaries.
Teachers attending the course will be expected to:
- Bring and share examples of the fieldwork their school currently undertakes in their local area
- Review their experiences with and against others and good practice
- Actively participate in different approaches and techniques showcased in the master class
- Undertake work relevant to the specific site of the master class, (the Jurassic coast in 2008)
- Upon return to school, to redevelop their existing programmes, document their experiences and new schemes of work, and share these through the Learning and Leading web pages
Eligibility guidelines
- Teaching geography in a maintained (state) school in the UK
- Working in a school that presents challenging circumstances in its provision of geography. E.g. higher than average social deprivation or disadvantage for the pupils (demonstrated through the proportion of pupils having free school meals, Ofsted data; or ‘Value Added' information etc) or other forms of challenge which impact on the provision of geography.
Application procedure
Applications (no longer than 2 sides of A4) should be submitted by email in Word format to the Learning and Leading Project Co-ordinator at the RGS-IBG and must contain the following information:
- Name and full school and home contact details (include an email address)
- Evidence of why your school is facing challenging circumstances and how you as a teacher are helping to address and overcome young peoples' disadvantaged circumstances in their geographical education
- Information about the achievement of young people in geography in your school
- How you plan to embed the learning from the master class programme in you school
- Supporting statement from a senior colleague
- Stated commitment to undertake follow-up work to provide fieldwork resources for the website for the benefit of other teachers
Selection process
- Applications will be assessed by an external panel of experts (there are no interviews)
Contact/ Applications: Amber Sorrell
Project Co-ordinator: Learning and Leading
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
T: (0) 20 7591 3000
F: (0) 20 7591 3031
E: a.sorrell@rgs.org
W: www.rgs.org/OurWork/Learning&Leading
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) offers many other grants to support teaching and learning. Full details of all grants can be found at http://www.rgs.org/grants