Field Studies Council first to receive geography accolade

The Field Studies Council (FSC) has become the first non-school organisation to be awarded the prestigious Geographical Association’s Key Stage 3 Secondary Geography Quality Mark Award (SGQM), in recognition of excellence in teaching and learning in geography, at its field centres.

The SGQM is a framework which has been developed by the Geographical Association to enable subject leaders to raise the standards of geography, supporting the teaching of quality geography and promoting Continued Professional Development.

Sponsored by the Action Plan for Geography and the DCSF, is now in its fourth year and reflects the national standard for the teaching of quality geography.

Along with the FSC being awarded the quality mark, a total of ninety-two secondary schools have now achieved the award. All the award winners underwent a rigorous moderation process during January, and the team of assessors were hugely impressed by the manner in which all are embracing the new opportunities afforded by the curriculum changes at KS3.

The FSC has been awarded SGQM Partner status in recognition of the guidance and leadership that it gives its centres in the promotion of quality KS3 geography provision.

Rob Lucas Chief Executive of the Field Studies Council commented “The FSC and the GA have worked in close partnership for many years and are delighted to become the first SGQM partner. Receiving such a prestigious award reflects the high quality and enthusiasm of our staff for teaching geography and we are delighted to continue providing opportunities for students to question, explore and think critically about the issues and environments that make up our 21st century landscape.”

Highlighting the awards importance, David Lambert Chief Executive of the GA said: “In the early years of the twenty-first century, there is no more relevant subject in the curriculum than geography, helping young people to understand the world and their place in it. The Secondary Geography Quality Mark provides a ‘must have’ form of professional recognition for geography teams in secondary schools nationally. It is a professional development tool which supports ‘living geography’ in schools and at the same time helps to prepare the Self Evaluation Form for Ofsted.”

Tim Foster Head of FSC Blencathra said “ Several of our academic staff are geographers, including myself so we are very pleased to receive this recognition from the Geographical Association. As a matter of further geographical interest we will be hosting the 2010 Worldwise Challenge event at Blencathra. Up to 10 schools will be invited to send a team of 3 pupils and a teacher to take part in a broad range of enjoyable and competitive fieldwork activities at the centre in May. This competition is also used to select the pupils who will compete in the National Geographic World Championships and the International Geography Olympiad, which in recent years have been hosted in North America, Hungary and Australia! “