Celebrating quality geographyCelebrating quality geography

‘‘Quality is never an accident; it is always the Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.’result of intelligent effort.’ (John Ruskin 1819 – 1900)(John Ruskin 1819 – 1900)

Why celebrate?

• To recognise the good work that you are doing

• To appreciate the difference you are making for your pupils

• To gain recognition for your work• To make yourselves feel good

……AND WHY NOT?!AND WHY NOT?!

Opportunities for revitalising the curriculum

Opportunities to demonstrate the power of Living Geography

Opportunities to celebrate geography as one of humanity’s big ideas

Time for a Time for a different view different view of what of what youyou can achieve?can achieve?

Recognition Recognition is is importantimportant

Celebration and recognition:Celebration and recognition:The Secondary Geography Quality MarkThe Secondary Geography Quality Mark

SGQM• Is self-reflective and self-evaluative• Mirrors the SEF• Is a collaborative process• Helps to identify priorities• Promotes the celebration of strengths• Is nationally recognised and supported

Comment from schools…• ‘…..We have always had an open mind as to

what we teach and how we teach, preferring innovation and change to stagnation and repetition. So when we had the chance to pilot SGQM we knew we were undertaking a process of national importance – a sense of setting off into the unknown.’

‘Personal and professional challenge combined at a time of great change in what and how we were teaching. …….. A thorough overhaul of our lessons was needed and SGQM came at just the right time to establish whether the department was on the right tracks.’

‘A valuable, reflective process of continuous improvement’

Comment from schools…

“The process of applying in itself helps you and your department to take a step back and look at what you are doing. It also gives you a personal satisfaction that you have been nationally recognised as a geography teacher / department.” Paul Hunt, St Peter’s High School

“The school has had good publicity too - an article was featured on us achieving the SGQM in the local press and this clearly is beneficial to the school. I also think it gives pupils and community partners confidence in what we are aiming to do and are actually achieving.”Sally Sumner, Bury C of E High

Comment from schools…

Administration costs (compare with INSET course costs)

Small schools <750 pupils - £200

Medium schools 750-1200 pupils - £300

Large schools >1200 pupils - £400

'This is self-run CPD par excellence, for evidence from training evaluations shows that the one-off day, run by no-matter-how-inspiring a speaker, is generally found less effective as CPD than that where teachers themselves are the active participants, engaged in working on a relevant topic'. (Quote from Advisory Teacher)

Summary: Planning, preparing and applying for Summary: Planning, preparing and applying for the awardthe award

1. Subject leader and department complete self- evaluation to establish the level which best describes the quality of geography in school

2. This provides a visual overview and helps to identify areas of development.

3. An action plan is produced.4. Register with the GA and pay the appropriate fee 4. Begin working for the SGQM at any time.5. Describe and explain evidence for each criterion6. Submit evidence December/May

Next StepsNext Steps

• Register your interest• Gain support through the SGQM VLE with

access to all Quality Mark CPD• Web-based programme available to support

the SGQM process• Embark on the SGQM process

sgqm@geography.org.ukjuliebeattie@geography.org.uk

www.geography.org.uk/secondary/secondaryqualitymark/

http://www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk/quality-marks/introduction/

Chartered GeographerChartered Geographer

http://www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk/chartered-geographer/apply/

Further recognition with the TLA possible L1 & L2Further recognition with the TLA possible L1 & L2

Activity

1. What areas of your department’s work deserves recognition. Why?

2. Write a 250 word press release that celebrates the work that you do.

3. Use the press release to produce your own Manifesto – A Different View - for Geography at your school.