Support from QLS

Advice and support from SID / QLS

QLS (Quality Learning Service) is part of the School Improvement Division (SID) of the Staffordshire Children and Lifelong Learning Directorate. QLS offers bespoke training and consultation for your school on matters relating to teaching and learning Geography. Please contact me to discuss your requirements so that I can help you develop geography in your school. Support is available for:

Pre-Ofsted preparations, such as completing departmental SEFs
ICT in geography
Induction of new subject leaders
Post-Ofsted action plans
Assessment and data analysis
Advanced Skills Teachers for Geography

You may contact me at any time.

Kate Russell [+44 (0)1785 277966]; and by e-mail to kate.russell@staffordshire.gov.uk

The Kingston Centre, Fairway, Stafford, ST16 3TW

Looking for a teaching job in Staffordshire? Check the on-line vacancies here.

QLS GEOGRAPHY Professional Development 2008 - 2009

All new courses can be viewed via the online booking service. Courses are open to teachers from beyond Staffordshire and indeed many participants regularly come from beyond the county borders! You can book on line or you can phone 01785 277932 or fax 01785 256193 or e-mail lorraine.cooper@staffordshire.gov.uk to request a list of courses or quote.

The coming months see a range of professional development opportunities for teachers, please follow the links for further details:

Primary courses and networking opportunities for 2008 - 2009

Click on the hyperlink for full details

New Primary Geography Subject Leaders	2nd October 2008
Primary Geography Network meetings South Staffs (Pendrell Hall) 14th October 2008 (1.30 - 3.30) Tamworth (Coton Centre) 15th October 2008 (1.30 - 3.30) Moorlands (Knypersley First School, Biddulph) 16th October 2008 (4.00 - 6.00) Stafford (Kingston Centre) 20th October 2008(4.00 - 6.00) Lichfield (Scotch Orchard Primary School) 22nd October (4.00 - 6.00) Newcastle (Seabridge Centre) 6th November 2008 (4.00 - 6.00)	These network meetings are held twice yearly in "double districts" and are offered as afternoon or twilight sessions (to be held in other parts of the double district in the Spring Term)
Primary Geography Network (Special Schools)	19th November 2008
Excellence and Enjoyment in Geography!	28th January 2009
Primary Geography Network meetings Stafford (Kingston Centre) 24th March 2009 (1.30 - 3.30) Burton 25th March 2009 (1.30 - 3.30) Newcastle (Seabridge) 30th March 2009 (4.00 - 6.00) Moorlands (Manifold, Warslow) 31st March 2009 (1.30 - 3.30) South Staffs (Pendrell Hall) 1st April 2009 (4.00 - 6.00)	These network meetings are held twice yearly in "double districts" and are offered as afternoon or twilight sessions
Primary Geography Network (Special Schools)	1st April 2009 (9.00 - 12.))
Getting Started with Geography for NQTs	30th April 2009

Secondary and Middle school courses and networking opportunities for 2008 - 2009

Click on the hyperlink for full details

EdExcel A level Network	22nd September 2008
Putting KS3 into Practice!	17th October 2008
Secondary Geography NQT network	21st October 2008
Middle School Network (Secondary Strategy)	12th November 2008 (9.00 - 12.00)
Secondary Geography Network (Special Schools)	19th November 2008 (9.00 - 12.00)
Geography for non-Specialists	21st January 2009
Secondary Geography NQT network	5th February 2009
Geography Network (Secondary Strategy)	11th February 2009
Secondary Geography Network (Special Schools)	25th February 2009
Geography Network (Secondary Strategy) Newcastle	Seabridge 10th June 2009 (1.00 - 4.00)
Geography Network (Secondary Strategy) Stafford	Kingston 11th June 2009 (1.00 - 4.00)
Secondary Geography NQT Network	15th June 2009 (1.00 - 4.00)

Most of our courses are held at The Kingston Centre in Stafford, Stafford Rail Station is only 1 hour 45 from London Euston and 45 minutes from Birmingham New Street, Liverpool and Manchester.

This map links to www.getamap.co.uk

e-updates - are you getting yours?

Staffordshire colleagues only - there are two special local geography e-update newsletters which you may request - one is primary and and is secondary. They will be delivered to you via e-mail a few times during the term.

How to register .... Intranet login

Data

National provisional GCSE (full course) results 2006 (all UK candidates)
Percentages by grade and gender. (2005 data in brackets)

Gender

Number
sat

% of total

A*-A

A*-C

Male

118849
(121892)

4.2
(4.3)

7.6
(7.2)

13.4
(12.6)

16.7
(16.6)

25.3
(25.1)

16.5
(16.3)

9.4
(9.9)

5.5
(6.0)

2.9
(3.2)

2.7
(3.1)

21
(19.8)

63
(61.5)

Female

94620
(94864)

3.2
(3.3)

11.2
(11.5)

16.8
(15.8)

18.2
(17.9)

23.3
(23.2)

13.8
(13.8)

7.9
(8.1)

4.3
(4.8)

2.4
(2.7)

2.1
(2.2)

28.0
(27.3)

69.5
(68.4)

M and F

213469
(216756)

3.7
(3.8)

9.2
(9.1)

14.9
(14.0)

17.4
(17.1)

24.4
(24.3)

15.3
(15.3)

8.7
(9.0)

5.0
(5.5)

2.7
(3.0)

2.4
(2.7)

24.1
(23.1)

65.9
(64.5)

Key stage 3 teacher assessments 2007

The KS3 teacher assessments for Staffordshire 2007 are as follows:

%	3	4	5	6	7	L5+	L6+	APS
All pupils	3	16.1	38.7	30.3	10.4	80	41.3	34.8
Boys	4.2	19.3	39.3	27.4	8.1	75.4	36.2	34
girls	1.9	12.8	38.1	33.2	12.6	84.6	46.5	35.6

National teacher assessment as follows

%	3	4	5	6	7	L5+	L6+
All pupils	4	19	37	27	10	75	38

Full details of KS3 results can be found here on the DCSF website

QLS Geography

Kate Russell is the senior adviser for geography and whose main interests are:

developing cross curricular links with geography and other subjects in the primary phase
improving place studies for the 7-13 age group.
developing the use of ICT as a tool for geography teachers.

Advanced Skills Teachers

Staffordshire has two ASTs who specialise in geography. ASTs are teachers who have been recognised through external assessment as having excellent classroom practice. ASTs specialise in teaching and learning and their skills in this area are used within their own school and with teachers from other schools through agreed outreach work. If you are from a Staffordshire school and would like to request support from an AST in your school please find further details and the outreach request form here which should be completed and returned to their OutReach Manager, Kate Russell at The Kingston Centre.

Christine Rogers,is a Year 3 teacher and geography subject leader at Perton First School, near Wolverhampton. As Chris has also worked in secondary schools, she has experience of teaching pupils from Y1 through to Y11. Chris is particularly interested in cross curricular work with a geography focus.

Sarah Black, is a geography teacher and second in the department at The Friary High School in Lichfield. Sarah teaches at all key stages. She is particularly interested in developing innovative schemes of work and creating exciting learning opportunities for learners.

Sarah has just launched her new website, The Geography Clinic, to support teachers and pupils across key stages 3 -5. It is full of innovative and exciting resources for geographical learning.

Chris Durbin was previously the county inspector for geography but has taken up a post with the English Schools Foundation in Hong Kong from September 2004. Chris was the founder of this site and was hugely significant in setting up this creative and innovative resource which has become so important in supporting geography teachers all over the UK and beyond!

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to kate.russell@staffordshire.gov.uk
Copyright � 2007 [QLS Staffordshire County Council]

This page last updated 08 July 2008