Priory School Specialist Sports College Geography Department

Development Plan Jan 2008 – July 2011

General aims

Learning and undertaking activities in geography contribute to achievement of the curriculum aims for all young people to become:

successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve

confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.

The study of geography stimulates an interest in and a sense of wonder about places. It helps young people make sense of a complex

and dynamically changing world. It explains where places are, how places and landscapes are formed, how people and their environment interact, and how a diverse range of economies, societies and environments are interconnected. It builds on pupils' own

experiences to investigate places at all scales, from the personal to the global. Geographical enquiry encourages questioning, investigation and critical thinking about issues affecting the world and people's lives, now

and in the future. Fieldwork is an essential element of this. Pupils learn to think spatially and use maps, visual images and new technologies, including geographical information systems (GIS), to obtain, present and analyse information. Geography inspires pupils to

become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

What does Geography at Priory aim to do?

To stimulate a sense of wonder about places

To help you to make sense of the complex and sometimes crazy world around you

To inspire and show you how you can change your world

To help you to explore your geography

To give you the skills to make it in the future – whatever your choices are

Red – School Improvement Plan Links Blue – Humanities Improvement Plan Links Italic text denotes actions taken

Green – Links to HIAS action points Sept 2007

Development plan to be shared with staff during next Department meeting. Also to be placed onto Intranet in line with school policy.

KEY ISSUES SPECIFIC TARGETS TARGET

DATE

ACTION TO BE TAKEN/ BY WHOM MONITORED

BY

1. Raising

Standards

Ke

y St

age

3

1.1. Update all Schemes of

Work in line with new

National Curriculum.

(1.2) (3.3) (1.16) (1.21)

(1.25) (2.32) (3.32)

Feb-July 2008. Staff to trial and evaluate (including student voice) new units (All) DRg to trial new

Environment unit from Feb 2008 to develop exemplar material and to provide opps. for

staff to observe practice. MCa to trial Sport unit with Year 8 from Mar 2008. MBa

trailing thinking skills activities.

DRg – dept

meeting

Easter 2008.

Write and finalise KS3 curriculum map. This will include how progression will be made

throughout KS3 especially in the acquisition of skills. (DRg to lead with input from all)

Suggestions for units shared at Subject Meeting 21st Jan. Staff to feedback ideas. Ideas

for curriculum mapping include the ‘target’ model available from the GA.

CL Hums

By July 2008. Write and resource entire Year 7 to include a lesson level SoW with differentiation,

challenge and homework opportunities highlighted. (Core homeworks to be consistent

across the team and posted on the internet in l ine with school policy.) Also to including

common assessments. Teaching units to use a range of imaginative teaching and

learning methods. Review Year 9 Hazards Unit. Implement new unit for Sept 2008. (All

staff) (DRg to lead with staff to assist with writing and resourcing)

DRg / CL Hums

By July 2009 Review current Year 8. Write and resources new Year 8. (DRg and all staff responsible

for individual units)

DRg / CL Hums

By July 2010 Review and rewrite Year 9 curriculum. (DRg with all staff) DRg / CL Hums

Ongoing Investigate links with local business and community for community involvement.

Liaise with EBP through KRi (DRg) BBC School Report, EBP,

JDb

Ongoing Monitor progress to ensure the consistent delivery of new SoW. Formal and informal

monitoring strategies (DRg). Establish a system of peer observation whereby all team

members see each other to share good practice. (All) Provide a space to share successes

and risks taken. Continue to embed and evaluate in July 2010

DRg

Ongoing Better data collection and analysis using the school Level Update Class Yearly

Statements (LUCYS) and Hybrid Data System (HDS) and Hums KS4 tracker, to allow pupil

tracking and intervention. INSET needed. (DRg, all)

CL Hums

ASAP, after

Easter 2008

Audit existing KS3 SoW and ensure consistent delivery while new KS3 is being

introduced (All) DRg to trial a short population unit with Year 8 leading to creation of

resources and common assessment task. This can then be internally moderated

DRg

1.2. Improve transition

between KS2 and 3.

July 2008. Contact feeder primary schools to investigate future joint projects and to establish the

skil ls and knowledge base already attained through geography and allied projects

teaching in KS2 (DRg) Joint project in place supported with RG grant money for summer

term 2010

MBa

1.3. Develop Humanities

curriculum projects

and establish links

with other subjects in

preparation for New

KS3 Curriculum.

Ongoing Work with CL’s in History and RE on possible South Africa project. Consider further

development of the Language and History visit to the north of France and the war

graves. Approach CL’s of core subjects with a view to developing common

assessments.(CL Hums)

Ke

y St

age

4

1.4. Raise attainment in

public examinations to

school average.

Specifically address

gender bias and SEN in

July 2008 and

ongoing

Revision / CW workshops from Jan 2008 for current Year 11. To focus especially on case

studies. Extra workshops to be offered during Easter and May half term holidays. (GCSE

subject teachers) Coursework workshops run by DRg and MBa Jan 2008. Morning

workshops and flexible workshops provided in 2009. Clashes with core subjects and

issue.

pupil attainment. (3.2)

(1.22) (1.25) (2.21)

(3.2)

From Easter

2008

Easter 2010

Common coursework task with current Year 10. Shared assessment criteria, fieldwork

for primary data collection for all current Year 10. Action HIAS recommendations on the

support given to coursework candidates. (GCSE teaching staff) Common task set and

completed in 2008 and 2009. Controlled assessment linked to OCR B now important.

Mock CA needed to train pupils in independent high level. CPD needed for all team

DRg to coord

From Easter

2008

Develop a systematic approach for Coursework KS 4 including a timetable. (DRg and

MBa) Discussed subject meeting Feb 11th. MBa made a number of key suggestions

including contact with parents via a letter and the structure of the fieldwork day.

Ongoing Use current Year 10 examination results and Hums KS4 tracker to identify

underperforming pupils. Run workshops to improve performance. (CL Hums to support

in data analysis) Share and involve pupils with their target grades. Use Geography target

sheets based on Hums template.Trackers are informing CL interventions, although new

Whole School data systems are providing better data

CL Hums

Ongoing

Change the Year 10 and 11 examinations to reflect challenge actual GCSE papers . Make

use of Edexcel’s exam wizard available

http://www.edexcel.org.uk/quals/gcse/geography/gcse/1312/ (DRg. INSET for MBa)

Ongoing Use past papers throughout KS4 in order to develop exam skills. (GCSE teaching staff)

(1.17) Past papers now embedded across the department

Ongoing Better data collection and analysis using the school Level Update Class Yearly

Statements (LUCYS) and Hybrid Data System (HDS), to enhance pupil tracking and

intervention. INSET needed. (DRg, all) Now standardised assessments

CL Hums

Ongoing Data used to identify G+T and SEN pupils. These pupils to be tracked and intervention

put in place early in Year 10. (All) To include early contact with parents (stock of

standard letters to be produced (MBa)) Inset needed for all staff. To link with school

policies on interventions.

DRg and CL

Hums

Ongoing Revise existing KS4 SoW to identify opportunities for common assessments and the

strengthen case study links . Provide links to assist pupils on department blog and

intranet. (GCSE subject staff)

1.5. Review current GCSE

Specification and

select a more

appropriate

specification following

KS4 review. (1.2)

Specifications

available from

Sept 2008

Review new GCSE specifications and select most suitable for Priory students. (GCSE

subject staff) DRg has used links with the GA to investigate early drafts of specifications.

OCR B Specification chosen partly in response to Student Voice

By July 2009

Feb 2010

Revise and resource SoW for Year 10 (2009-2010) Done Theme 1 Rivers and Coasts

Rewrite Theme 2 Population and Settlement

DRg

Ge

ne

ral

de

velo

pm

en

ts a

cro

ss b

oth

Ke

y St

age

s

1.6. Ensure that

department is

consistent in the

application of existing

school policies.

Especially with

relation to marking,

assessment,

homework, target

setting, literacy and

SoW production.

Ongoing DRg to receive INSET from CL Hums and monitor team as per school policy. INSET v

ia subject meetings. (All) Redraft and update department handbook to include subject

specific guidance in the application of school policies. A version of this to be made

available on the intranet(link to 4.4 below).(All)

Ongoing

By Dec 2010

Set up a programme of self evaluation that follows the schools existing STEP procedure

and uses Hums faculty SEF format and tools. Work towards GS/RGS(IBG) SGQM. (CL

Hums) Process informing team targets and teaching.

1.7. Replace KS 3

summative

assessments (1.1)

Ongoing. Yr 7

in place by July

2008

Phase out existing summative, exam style assessments in KS 3. To be replaced with a

range of levelled assessments. Include pupil speak assessment criteria to allow progress

to Level 6+ (All)

Ongoing Units to be trailed in order to create exemplar materials and to allow discussion at Dept

meetings. (DRg and MCi) Suitable classes at a range of abilities identified by half term.

Trials to begin after Feb half term.

Ongoing Observation of DRg during AfL lessons. INSET during subject meeting on use a range of

AfL techniques.(All) Established

Sept 2008 Ensure that Assessment criteria to be shared with pupils for all assessments. Share

criteria with parents via VLE (All) Assessments rewritten and available on staff intranet

and teacher blogs – awaiting decision on format for VLE

Ongoing Introduce peer and self assessment in Geography. (All) (1.11)

After Easter

2008

Introduce assessment portfolios into Year 7 to collect assessment evidence. Use

assessments to conduct moderation in levelling pupil work. (MBa to lead with all staff to

contribute)

DRg

1.8. Make Geography a key

subject in delivering the

Global Dimension at Priory

School.

On

goin

g

Map new SoW to the 8 key concepts of the global dimension. Ensure that each new

SoW has an opportunity to develop these. (All) For example Human Rights could be

introduced into the Sport unit – child labour, Interdependence, Sustainability and

Diversity are key concepts in new 2008 curriculum. Further links here between other

Hums subjects, especially Cit.(HWa) Strong Literacy, Cit, His and Sci links identified

Ensure that all subject staff are aware of the global dimension – possible HIAS Inset

opportunity / Twilight session (All)

Use school’s existing links to provide a global dimension South Africa, Germany, France

and Holland. Investigate possible uses. For example South Africa Blog project set up by

CL ay pervious school could be a model.

1.9. Make Geography a key

subject in delivering Every

Child Matters at Priory

School.

Ongoing Link new SoW into ECM as they are written. Provide Inset to increase awareness of ECM

with staff. Possible l inks could include:

Be healthy – sustainable living, food miles.

Be safe – involvement in risk assessment for on and off site fieldtrips.

Enjoy and achieve –increase results at both Key Stages. Increased use of pupil

voice.

Make a positive contribution – opportunities for pupils to contribute to school

policies involving the environment. Also to contact local MP’s and organise

petitions.

Achieve economic well being – introduce enterprise activities, for example

working to a budget when

Liaise with HIAS Geography inspector for further ideas and support,

1.10. Develop the use of

pupil voice in order to

develop SoW.

Ongoing Use surveymonkey.com and pupil interviews to gather pupil voice to inform topic

decisions. Form a student panel for geography of pupils who input into SoW. Feed

information into SEF and use Hums pupil questionnaires (DRg, All) online questionnaire

trialled with a Year 7 group Feb 2008.

2. ICT and

resources

2.1. To become the leading

subject in the use of ICT.

(2.2) (1.24) (2.12) (2.24)

Ongoing

Develop use of VLE and Weblogs to support courses at KS 3 and 4. Set up email contact

available to pupils (DRg to trial and provide Inset to department staff. Initially use for

KS4 support) Weblogs will support the VLE input as they can be updated daily by subject

staff and therefore respond to pupil needs more quickly.

Ongoing Ensure that new SoW along with core homeworks are avai lable on the school Intranet

(MBa)

By Easter 2008 Evaluation of current stock led by Curriculum Leader (All ). CL bid for development fund

to 2007-08 enable replacement and modernisation of resources as required

Ongoing To enable pupils to choose whether to share and present their work through the use of

ICT. (DRg to demonstrate use and share outcomes with subject staff) Unequal access to

eLearning opportunities causing an issue here

Ongoing Investigate a range of GIS packages and options to ensure compliance with 2008 KS3

orders and allow use for KS4 coursework projects. Include the use of Google Earth,

Infomapper and Local Studies. Ensure that ICT use in embedded within all SoW(DRg)

By Easter 2008 Development fund bid for laptops and projector for all geography teaching rooms.

Portable projector for non-specialists. (DRg) Team providing with netbooks in 2009 from

department capitation

By Easter 2008 Investigate the possibility of webcam and weather station to provide primary data

collection and possible G+T projects (JDb)

2.2. Secure the learning resources required to successfully deliver the

new National Curriculum, with special attention to ICT provision.

Ongoing

3. Fieldwork 3.1. Develop programme

for learning outside of the

classroom across all Year

groups (2.2) (1.23) (2.31)

In place from

Sept 2008

Identify opportunities for Year 7 field work. Introduce Sparsholt trip into Year 7

Environment Unit (All)

Ongoing Identify school site opportunities for fieldwork during KS3. Trial FW opportunities on

site. (All) DRg and MCi using school grounds during Year 7 Weather and Climate unit

Ongoing Liaise with Clare Hillman (Learning Outside of the classroom coordinator) to explore

opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. (DRG)

In place by May

2008

Introduce a data collection fieldwork day for Year 10 to tie in with coursework. (GCSE

subject staff) Opportunities discussed during dept meeting 11 th Feb. Dates identified.

MBa to organise.

DRg

Ongoing Identify and investigate feasibility of residential fieldwork in Year 10 to support physical

geography aspects and personal development through outdoor activities. (GCSE Subject

Staff)

4. Developing

Teachers

4.1. Ensuring that Non-

specialists are supported.

All

acti

on

s

on

goin

g an

d

ph

ased

in

fo

r

Sep

t 2

00

8.

INSET on new Year 7 curriculum. Invite non specialists to department away day. (DRg

and subject specialists)

Team teaching and observation of specialist staff by non-specialists (All)

Investigate new textbook resources to support non-specialists (DRg) Geog.1 identified

as a possible resource to us. Also Folens new series. Both use a range of teaching and

learning.

All SoW and resources to be placed on the intranet. (SMc)

New KS3 SoW to provide a lesson by lesson guide and include differentiation and

homework guidance. (All)

Investigate moving the Geography subject meeting to allow all teachers of Geography to

attend. (DRg)

4.2. Establish a culture of

sharing good practice.

Ongoing Establish a peer observation within the department. (All) DRg and MBa have identified

possible opportunities. DRg to notify dept of opportunities.

Ongoing Upload staff resources onto the school intranet. (All)

Ongoing Identify, bid for and attend relevant CPD opportunities. To include visits to other schools

(especially local Hums specialist college) (All)

4.3. Ensure that staff are

able to implement changes

Ongoing CL to attend CPD on data use and intervention (DRg, CL Hums), HIAS AST support to help

evaluate new SoW, Staff to identify training needs and bid for CPD, including visits to

other schools (All)

Summer term

2008.

Whole day off-site Inset in the summer term for the department to work on KS3

curriculum. (DRg to book.)

4.4. Update and revise

department Handbook

Ongoing To include subject specific guidance in the application of school policies. A version of

this to be made available on the intranet. (Link to 1.6 above) Guidance for non-specialist

teachers of Geography. (DRg and MBa)

5. Classroom

Environment

5.1. Create a classroom

atmosphere that

encourages geographical

By Easter 2008

‘Banned Words’ to be displayed and used in all geography teaching rooms.(All)

questioning and supports

learning

Ongoing Investigate feasibility of improving rewards within the department/ humanities faculty.

(All including CL Hums)

By Easter 2008 Establish the use of an ‘Image of the week’ in geography classrooms to stimulate

interest and a sense of wonder. (All)

By Easter 2008 Display the aims of Geography at Priory in all teaching rooms and on a corridor display

(DRg to create and pass onto staff) Aims written in pupil speak during KS3 Conference 13

Feb. To be shared with staff at next dept meeting.