Geography Teaching Today

They are:

• Peter Evea, Stanley Education Centre
• Robert Chambers, St Ivo School
• Emily Richardson, Primary PGCE Tutor, Roehampton University
• Nichola Reckless, Geographical Association
• Graham Goldup, Cardinal Newman Catholic School
• John Lyon, Geographical Association

For more information about becoming a CGeog (Teacher) click here

Read more about Daniel here.

The Ordnance Survey Awards for excellence in teaching geography at secondary level went to:

Louise Ellis, Stopsley High School & Community College, Luton
Alan Parkinson, currently King Edward VII High School, Norfolk, soon to be working on the APG for the Geographical Association

Well done to Louise and Alan- both also Chartered Geographer (Teachers).

The Royal Geographical Society with IBG team will be

Claire Wheeler: Professional and Communications Officer. Responsible for CGeog Teacher and also the Society's work on www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk 

Eleanor Coulber: Professional Support Officer. Responsible for the fieldwork and local learning programme, alongside the development of a selected range of new KS3 online resources.

Kate Amis: Manager Ambassador Programme. Kate will retain her responsibility for leading the Ambassador's programme and also take on new responsibility for the day-to-day management of the APG team.

We are also shortly to recruit to fill the following post:
Education Officer - Ambassadors. Responsible for supporting the Ambassador programme. This post is currently being recruited.

Steve Brace: Head of Education and Outdoor Learning will retain overall responsibility for the Society's APG activities

The Geographical Association team will be

Wendy North and Paula Owens: Curriculum Development Leaders (Primary). This new permanent post will be shared by Wendy and Paula who have done such sterling work on leading the primary Action Plan programmes in recent years.

Alan Parkinson: Curriculum Development Leader (Secondary). This post is also permanent. Alan is well known for his innovative curriculum work nationally and has been involved with much of the secondary Action Plan activity.

Anne Greaves: Website Editor will continue to keep www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk up to date for the GA team.

Julie Beattie: Project Assistant. Julie will assist with various aspects of APG2 with a particular focus on the Quality Marks.

John Lyon: Programme Director will retain overall responsibility for the GA's APG activities.

Justin Woolliscroft: Consultant leading the Secondary Geography Quality Mark scheme.

In addition we would jointly like to thank a number of colleagues who have made significant contributions to the APG 1 and move onto new roles outside our respective organisations. These include

Alison Gardner - RGS-IBG Ambassadors programme. She has moved to take up a new role with the Conservation Foundation to manage their new CSR programme on behalf of O2. Alison has made an invaluable contribution to the Action Plan (not least in Society's expansion into the pencil market!) and the Ambassadors programme in particular.

Jon Wolton - RGS-IBG KS3 resources programme. He has moved to a new role of Education and Careers Executive at the Landscape Institute. Jon developed new online resources for KS3 (11-14) which have been very well received by teachers. Prior to this, he initiated and developed our successful and award winning Geography in the News website - which is the centre piece of the successful development of the Society's School Membership programme.

Nicky Reckless - GA Secondary Projects Leader. Nicky proved inspirational in her time at the GA, developing and leading a range of face to face CPD units and online CPD as well as organising and running a number of successful conferences for teachers. Her work has been very diverse, ranging from Physical geography to ICT and the Pilot GCSE.

Lisa Higgins - GA Administrative Assistant. Lisa worked on various aspects of APG1 with a particular focus on events and has moved on to a new role at an Events Company.

Lucy Oxley - GA Events Co-ordinator. Lucy organised all events during the first phase of the Action Plan for Geography. She will continue her role full time at the GA organising GA Annual Conference and other CPD events.

Di Swift - Curriculum Making Projects Leader. Di stepped down during APG1 but her leadership helped to ensure the success of the GA's Action Plan projects.

With best wishes

Steve Brace Royal Geographical Society with IBG
John Lyon Geographical Association

The project follows the recent Curriculum Review on Diversity and Citizenship, undertaken by Sir Keith Ajegbo, which recommended that all schools participate in a high profile, national event - titled Who do we think we are? Week - involving...

"...investigations and celebrations by schools of pupils' histories and their community's roots and of the national and global links that they can make."

Sir Keith Ajegbo

Identity, Diversity and Citizenship
Use the website to explore a wide range of teaching and learning resources to support identity, diversity and citizenship education - structured around four Who do we think we are? themes:

• School and community
• Relationships, belonging and faith History and settlement
• 'Britishness', national identity/values and the 2012 Games

Who do we think we are? Week

Who do we think we are? will culminate in a week-long series of events and activities in June:
WDWTWA? Week = 23rd-28th June 2008

View an article linked to this project on the Geography in the News website

Bursaries for A Level students for fieldwork summer schools: Swanage 25-29 August 2008
The focus for this programme is to support individuals who may not, through a range of circumstances and disadvantage, have had the opportunity to participate in high quality fieldwork. In 2008 the RGS-IBG are providing 16 places for AS/A2 Level students to attend a fieldwork summer school based at the Townsend Centre, Swanage over the period 25-29th August. All the costs of attending the summer school, including travel to and from Swanage, will be covered by the Learning and Leading bursaries. This year's application deadline is July 4th 2008. View more details and application form

Bursaries for geography teachers for fieldwork masterclasses: Swanage 18 - 22nd August 2008
The summer school for teachers will bring together 16 teachers from UK schools to enhance their field teaching skills, to develop teaching resources for GCSE and A level which will be shared with others, and to reflect on how their learning can be adapted to provide quality fieldwork locally to their school. . In 2008 the RGS-IBG are providing 16 places for geography teachers to attend a fieldwork summer school based at the Townsend Centre, Swanage over the period 18-21th August. All the costs of attending the summer school, including travel to and from Swanage, will be covered by the Learning and Leading bursaries. This year's application deadline is July 4th 2008. View more details and application form

The teachers are:

• George Chamberlain, Northampton High School
• Peter Jones, Elliott School
• Ian Tett, Oakgrove School & Humanities College
• Sarah Tonge, St Ambrose Barlow RC Technology College
• David Roberts, Middleton Technology School
• Jeff Shaw, Berlin International School
• Christine Fox, William De Ferrers School
• Colin Prowse, Bedales School
• Clare Brooks, Institute of Education
• John Snelling, Trinity School
• Keith Phipps, King Edwards VI Camp Hill School for Boys

Chartered Geographer (Teacher) is available to teachers who can demonstrate competence, experience and professionalism in the use of geographical knowledge or skills in and out of the classroom, and who are committed to maintaining their professional standards through ongoing continuing professional development (CPD). More information

Each award includes an all expenses paid place to join an Earthwatch expedition in Europe during the summer holidays as well as the opportunity to apply for a grant to kick-start an environmental project in their school or local community. On the one to two week expedition educators will work alongside leading scientists in a teams of between 5 and 8 and take part in hands-on scientific research.

As well as carrying out conservation research science, participants will join in facilitator-led discussions linking the research to the national curriculum and collaborate to devise educational resources which will be published on the Earthwatch website.

You can find out more through the Earthwatch website: The closing date for applications is the 4th May 2008.

The purpose of the Award is to encourage and reward innovation in secondary school at geography department level, with the ultimate goal of encouraging students to continue to study geography beyond the compulsory years. The award is given jointly by the RGS-IBG and Geographical Association.

This year's first prize goes to:

Torquay Grammar School for Girls, Torquay

Second prize goes to:

Bishop Justus Church of England School, Bromley

For citations go to http://www.geography.org.uk/download/
GA_HEBradfords08Cit.doc

For previous winners go to GA Bradfords Awards Area

The Geographical Association will be participating in the activities by creating a page of geography related resources. Find out more on the GA's National Year of Reading page.

The official NYR website has further information about the initiative, and features comprehensive listings about events throughout the country. Local activities include special public read-ins, festivals, poetry readings and book weeks.

Jointly led by the GA and RGS-IBG, major strands will include:

• Enhancement of the Geography Teaching Today website including resources and online tutorials
• Local networks for primary and secondary teachers
• Development of the Ambassadors programme
• Continuation of the Quality Mark schemes and Chartered Geographer status

Further information about the second phase of the Action Plan will be added soon, in the meantime you can read the official press release on the DCSF website.

Read Jim Knight's GA conference speech

The details of the awards, an application form and details of the previous winners can be found at http://www.geography.org.uk/help/fundingawards
/bradfordsawards/#top

The deadline date is the 29th February 2008. The top award for the department is £600 and there are two other awards of £200 each.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/
0,,2247139,00.html#article_continue

Innovative Geography Teaching Grants

The Society offers five grants of up to £800 each to fund innovative geography teaching for all geography teachers working in secondary schools. The grants will enable geography teachers to develop imaginative, innovative or creative teaching materials and teaching methods. The aim is to serve both geography pupils and the wider teaching community.

2007 winners:

THE BELVEDERE ACADEMY FAIR TRADE FASHION SHOW
Leader: Gavin Sterry, The Belvedere Academy
Liverpool
Geography at The Belvedere Academy plans to host a fashion show to promote awareness of fair trade. The fashion
show, organised and run by Year 9 students will be unique, thought provoking and awe inspiring; taking influences
from across the curriculum. All of the clothes worn by students will be fair trade; either made in our textiles
department, using fair trade materials or donated from local fair trade clothing retailers. Through fashion, a theme
that is relevant to all our students, we will bring the geography of what is involved in the products we wear to life.
The project objectives are to 1.) Inspire global citizenship by raising awareness of the disparity that exists between
countries where clothes are manufactured, and where they are sold; 2.) To allow students, and the wider audience
to question their own values and responsibilities in the global fashion industry and; 3.)To allow students to assess
their part in the sustainability of global poverty through the production of the fashion show.

GEOGRAPHY KEY STAGE 3 PODCAST PROJECT
Leader: Teyfide Salih,Wilmington Enterprise College.
Kent
The aim of the project is to improve the learning outcomes and motivation for Geography at Key Stage 3 and
ultimately increase the student interest in Key Stage 4. Students will learn how to create visual and audio podcasts
detailing their current subject area. Completed podcasts will be widely accessible via download from the school
website, local cluster Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and iTunes. The podcasts will offer a fun and engaging
way to reach an audience beyond teachers and follow recent research trends of increased student motivation.

GEOGRAPHY ON TOUR
Leader: David Rogers
Portsmouth
This project aims to help pupils and educators to consider the wide range of relevant and exciting case studies
available to engage and inspire pupils. The new Key Stage 3 orders demand that the curriculum is engaging and
explores current issues. The project will aim to demonstrate the importance of geography in understanding issues
around Britain and show how pupils can contribute. The outcome will be a series of podcasts, videos, Google Earth
tours, lessons and unit ideas to inspire and support secondary geography colleagues across the country. This project
will tour the country examining local issues that geographers can understand and contribute to. The aim is to link to
the key concepts of geography as outlined in the 2008 National Curriculum and demonstrate how pupils can ‘participate in informed responsible action' while exploring ‘real and relevant contemporary contexts.'

USING GPS AND GOOGLE EARTH TO DEVELOP VIRTUAL FIELDTRIPS
Leader: Christine Lloyd-Staples, Mandeville School
This project aims to cascade the skills learnt at an RGS Google Earth training course to other secondary geography
teachers within a local authority (Buckinghamshire). Free training would be offered to teachers, with details
advertised in the termly geography newsletter and posted on http://www.bucksgfl.org.uk. The project will provide the
opportunity for geography teachers within Buckinghamshire to develop their skills and confidence in how to
combine use of the digital technologies available to them, to create "virtual fieldtrips" tailored to the needs of their
own students.

Ray Y Gildea Jr Award

The Ray Y. Gildea Jr Award is the Society's first endowed award supporting innovation in teaching and learning in higher and secondary education. A single grant of £2,750 is awarded annually.

Applications can be made for projects to research, develop and/or pilot innovations in teaching and learning in any field of geography in higher or secondary education. The outcomes of the grant should be able to be shown to be of direct benefit to students of geography.

2007 winner:

THESE ARE THE ECHOES
Leader: Monica Biagioli, University of the Arts London
London Olympic Site- Stratford
The Olympics are coming to London in 2012 and already the sites programmed for this global event are being
transformed beyond recognition. The main theme for this project is sound as cartography-a record of echoes left
in the main site as building is starting to take place in Stratford (the main site for London 2012).
The main objective is for teams of mentors and students to map the space by visiting the site around the
construction and gathering materials both visual and sound-based to create visual maps and soundscapes.
Embedded in that objective is to create a record of a site in transition-one that in five years will look and feel
totally different- and to preserve some of the current mapping of that space before its transformation is
completed.

The report shows that in primary and secondary schools, although there are many good lessons, too much teaching and learning is mediocre and pupils' achievement is weaker than in most other subjects. Many children interviewed in Key Stage 3 said they found geography boring and irrelevant, and the number of children choosing to study the subject at Key Stage 4 (age 14-16) continues to fall.

Ofsted's report describes good practice which, if adopted more widely, could help to reverse this trend. It also highlights the way successful geography teachers are using outdoor fieldwork activities to boost understanding of the subject, raise standards, and motivate pupils.

The Ofsted report recommends that the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority should continue to provide financial support for the Government's Action Plan for Geography, which stresses the value and importance of ongoing subject specific professional development in revitalising the teaching of the subject.

More information:

Managing Flood Risk has been launched with two case studies, and at least two more will be added to the site during the first half of 2008.

The first case study focuses on the town of Bewdley in the River Severn catchment, which experienced severe flooding in the autumn of 2000. As a picturesque Georgian town with many listed properties along the waterfront, an innovative engineering solution was required to protect the town from future flooding.

Another town which suffered from flooding in the autumn of 2000 was Uckfield in the River Ouse catchment, the subject of our second case study. The severity of the flooding was due to a combination of factors including building on flood plain areas to service the needs of a rapidly growing population, diversion of the original course of the River Uck and a lack of flood defences.

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.

www.geography.org.uk/managingfloodrisk

View the document here

GCSE subject criteria set out the knowledge, understanding, skills and assessment objectives common to all GCSE specifications in geography. They provide the framework within which an awarding body creates the detail of the specification.

• Adrian Taylor, St Mary's RC High School
• Iain Palôt, Chichester College
• Jonathan Powell, The Priory LSST
• Juliet Andrew-Evans, Education Consultant
• Peter Mather, Greenford High School
• Rebecca Kitchen, Aylesbury High School
• Richard Langton, Lawrence Sheriff School
• Robert Lang, King Edward VI Fiveways School
• Stacey McCabe, Independent Teaching and Learning Consultant

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. For more information please contact cgeogteacher@rgs.org or call 0207 591 3053.

The Our World Film Festival will take place on Thursday 27 March at the Odeon Cinema, Guildford, from 11:00am. The Festival will be a showcase of geographical filmmaking - a 'visual adventure into our changing planet to promote our understanding of the geographies that we live'.

The Festival also incorporates the geography@work film making competition open to students and teachers, with a range of prizes up for grabs.

Further information on films, screening times and competition guidelines is available on the GA website.

If you have answered ‘YES' to the above, then they could become one of the next nine Climate Change Champions.

The closing date is the 3rd December so there's still time to apply!

The competition is a search for nine outstanding young people, aged 11-18 to help communicate about climate change, and to represent their region and England as a whole. The winning nine Champions will:

• Attend a four day climate change expedition to Europe.
• Receive £1000 to organise a climate change event at their school or in their community.
• Receive a digital camera to record their time as a Climate Change Champion.
• Get to meet senior members of the Government and international spokespersons on climate change.

For full details on how to enter the competition, check out the website: http://www.climatechallenge.gov.uk 

Africa

New learning resources to accompany the Society's exhibition on African explorers entitled ‘Bombay Africans 1850-1910' have recently been added to the popular ‘Unlocking the Archives' website for schools. The resources target the key stage 2 and 3 geography and history curricula and explore the themes of enslavement, exploration and migration. They also provide a behind the headlines look at the changing face of modern Kenya. Each of the seven distinct themes on the site features fact sheets providing background information, associated downloadable activities and a gallery of archive images for use within the classroom. Resources can be accessed by visiting http://www.unlockingthearchives.rgs.org.

Further information about educational resources, free exhibition hire and the programme of creative workshops to accompany the exhibition can be obtained by emailing h.sanghera@rgs.org or calling the Project Education Officer on 020 7591 3057.

Brazil

Brazil Cityscapes: Key Stage 3 Geography
Learning materials exploring city life in Brazil are currently available on the Society's ‘Unlocking the archives' website for schools. The resources target the key stage 3 geography curriculum and explore the issues surrounding inequalities in Brazilian city life and the complex issue of migration from rural to urban areas within the country.
While many of us will be familiar with recent developments in cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, these materials provide a historical context to the development of these cities. Resources can be accessed by visiting www.unlockingthearchives.rgs.org.

Dr Gardner writes:

"Sir - While becoming literate and numerate is essential for all primary pupils (report, November 7), surely so is learning and enjoying a curiosity about our world.

It is in geography lessons that children start to make sense of their world and, tentatively, the wide and complex environment that surrounds them. Children need to understand what places are like, how they are connected and change, and indeed where they are on the map.

Where the scope and pace of change can seem daunting, it is essential that geography remains a key part of our children's education as a preparation for the changing world they will inherit"

Dr Rita Gardner, Director Royal Geographical Society, London SW7

View article online

Passport to the Poles
http://www.passporttothepoles.org/
This website was given a highly commended award.
This unique education project is inspired by a 5 month record-breaking attempt to journey pole to pole by helicopter, piloted by Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill. This website shares an understanding of our changing world, as seen by young people across the world. The resources are created by the teachers and students of schools along the route, in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society with IBG and the Polar First helicopter team. They are free for anyone to use in class, for homework or just for fun.

Your climate Your life
http://www.yourclimateyourlife.org.uk
This website won the non-book category.
This free site is about our changing climate and how it affects our lives, from the buildings we live and work in, to the way we travel, the holidays we take and the food we buy in the shops.

Kenya has long been renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and its unique animal life. Located on Africa's Eastern coast, the climate and geography of the country provide conditions that are perfect for some of the world's rarest animals, ranging from the mighty African elephant to the elusive black rhino. Tourists are drawn to the country's pristine beaches and the cultural heritage of its diverse communities, including the well known Maasai and Samburu people.

To learn more about Kenya and the challenges it faces you can download factsheets available for background information on key questions. Use these with the associated downloadable activities to investigate each area in the classroom.

View the Unlocking the Archives website

The Fellowships provide the costs of covering their teaching during one term of study leave spent at UCL.

Find out more about this and other funding and award opportunities on the GA website

The ever-popular GA Annual Conference provides an opportunity for anyone interested in geography and geography teaching to meet in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere for professional and social development. A busy programme is planned for 2008 including:

• Lectures from subject specialists
• Hands-on workshops for all phases
• Teacher-to-Teacher sessions
• The UK's largest exhibition of geographical resources
• Daytime receptions and evening events

Further information and online booking is available now at www.geography.org.uk/conference

Book now to take advantage of the Early Bird booking rates and don't forget, students get in free!

It also has sections on:

Why Study Geography
Making a Successful Application
Taking a Gap Year
Careers in Geography

http://studygeography.rgs.org/

Information about MapPilot was sent to all schools in the Ordnance Survey magazine GIS for schools in September 2007 and is available digitally at http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/education
/mappingnews/previouseditions/32/GISforschool.pdf 

Information about the digital data available can be found at www.emapsite.com

If you would like to enroll in the scheme please email your school details and the name of the lead teacher to education@rgs.org  

Throughout the Year, farmers, food producers and lots of other organisations will be offering up a bumper crop of ideas and events, information and teaching materials for participating schools. As the Year goes on, more and more food and farming resources, news and offers will be appearing on their website.