Primary Geography Quality Mark Award
Date: 20/05/09
Silver award winners ‘lead effective whole school approaches that support excellence in geography’
Twenty Three primary schools have achieved the Geographical Association’s Primary Geography Quality Mark (PGQM) Award following the latest round of moderation in this the third year of the award. The Primary Geography Quality Mark is supported by the DCSF through the Action Plan for Geography and is seen as a key strategy for raising the quality of geography in primary schools.
At Silver level the award is in recognition of the implementation of whole school approaches that support excellence in geography.
In April 2009 the successful Silver level PGQM schools are:
* Gospel Oak Primary School, London
* North Reddish Junior School, Stockport
* Roseacre Primary School, Blackpool
* Slade Primary School, Tonbridge
* Thornton Dale CE (VC) Primary School, Pickering
In these schools geography is effectively led by enthusiastic subject leaders who are able to inspire their colleagues. Teachers value the important contribution that geography makes to the curriculum and are skilled in ensuring that quality learning builds through the school. School strengths include environmental stewardship, active enquiry through fieldwork and the use of ICT. This motivates and engages children to understand more about the people and places that make up our world.
Cllr Andrew Mennear, Camden Council’s Executive Member for Schools, said: "This is a tremendous achievement and I would like to congratulate both staff and pupils at Gospel Oak. Ensuring our young people are engaged in subjects like geography and understand the wider implications that shape the world in which we live will help ensure our young people are well equipped to live in and contribute to an increasingly complex and connected world."
Wendy North, The Geographical Association project leader for the PGQM award says:
"The Geographical Association moderators have been thrilled with the quality of the learning and scale of the work achieved in our award schools. Many schools submitted inspiring examples of ways that geography can help young people to gain a fuller understanding of the complex and interdependent world in which we all live. An important criteria for us, when deciding on the award, is that schools use the subject to promote creativity, ensure active learning within school and in the outdoor classroom and develop links with other subjects both rigorously and imaginatively. We saw many examples of the way geography can make a real difference to pupil learning and to staff understanding and enthusiasm, especially when led by a keen subject leader who is supported by a headteacher who sees the subject’s potential."
Dr David Lambert Chief Executive of the GA says:
‘There is no more relevant subject in the curriculum than geography. The Primary Geography Quality Mark encourages schools to ensure that the geography they do provides children with the best experiences, helping them understand the world and their place in it.’
Alan Seymour, headteacher says:
‘This award is a recognition of the outstanding geography work produced by children and staff in our school. It is their effort under the brilliant leadership of Abi Johnson, our teacher who co-ordinates geography across the school, that has enabled us to improve our geography so significantly.’
The Primary Geography Quality Mark certificate which recognises whole school achievement has now been received by the school. An additional certificate for leading the Primary Geography Quality Mark will be presented to the Subject Leader at the Geographical Association Annual Conference at the University of Manchester on 16-18 April 2009.
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Note to Editors:
A summary of the moderator feedback is available from the school.Each school that has achieved the Primary Geography Quality Award is actively working to raise the standards of geography teaching and learning for their pupils.
For further information contact:
Wendy North, Primary Project Leader Action Plan for Geography The Geographical Association 160 Solly Street Sheffield S1 4BFTel: GA 0114 296 0088; Mobile 007845954586; GA Fax 0114 296 7176; Website: www.geography.org.uk
Ref Code: PR 775 020 7974 5717
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Page last updated Jun 10, 2009 2:03 PM
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