2014: Mark Higginbottom

Mark Higginbottom was GA President during 2014. He has spent a career supporting other teachers as an advisor and school improvement officer since 2002.

As with more recent Presidents, much of this entry has been written thanks to contributions from Mark to a questionnaire which I sent round to all the Presidents who are still around to answer one.

Mark has worked in the North West of England for many years, and has a long association with that part of the world, having been born in Stockport in 1965 - which makes him younger than me. A whippersnapper President :)

Mark also kindly invited me over to Wigan to lead a session for him while I was working for the GA, which I remember was held in the function ground of a local rugby union team with a lovely group of teachers.

Mark went to New Mills School, then went on to study at the University of Manchester (BSc Joint Hons Geography and Geology, before going to Sheffield University to do a PGCE in Secondary Geography, where his tutor turned out to be another former GA President: the remarkable Margaret Roberts. He was also an NQT when he first met Sue Warn, another former GA President. These encounters were important in Mark's further engagement with the GA as well as his own professional development.

He has been particularly associated with the Worldwise brand, including the Worldwise Quiz (including the website element) and the Worldwise Challenge weekends.

Mark has also accompanied teams to the iGeo events to locations around the world. In 2019, there was a particularly impressive performance by the team. More on that competition and the role of the GA has been posted separately.

Mark chose Making an Impact as his Conference theme.

"Making an Impact'. The theme of ‘Making an Impact’ provided an opportunity to reflect on the geography our young people encounter and engage with and the relevance it plays to their everyday lives and experiences, be they EYFS, primary, secondary, post 16 or HEI students and whatever their ethnicity or socio-economic background.

I have been a GA member since September 1998. You had to join before Margaret Roberts would let you onto her PGCE! Since 2001 I have coordinated what was Geography Action Week (now Worldwise week), which led on to being the GA link for the Challenge weekend and have been co-chair of Worldwise since 2005. I have been team leader for the International Geography Olympiad since 2006. In 2019 in Hong Kong TeamUK had its best ever success, ranked 3rd in the World (43 countries competed), with a gold (the student was 2nd in the World out of 167 students, a silver and two bronze. 

I was a member of the membership and professional board for three years before electing elected to Council, serving for two and a half years before it became the Governing body, whereon I served for six years. Twelve months later I was elected as President for 2014 - 2015."

During his Presentation Mark included some voices from young people, with the help of Daniel Raven Ellison.

It included this thought provoking question:

“Asked if geography helps young people shape an understanding and appreciation of the world around them, whoever they are, wherever they live and whatever their academic interests, I believe we would all immediately respond with a resounding ‘yes!’; but do we really know the impact geography has on shaping them as ‘well rounded’ human beings?”

Mark's Presidential Address in 2015 was memorable, particularly for him.

He told me:
"The buzz of conference in your Presidential year is hugely memorable. Meeting teachers and young people and seeing your theme being put into practice and the impact it was having was a real success for me. Working with the three other Presidents as a team ensured synergy between years to further strengthen and embed my own theme over time. The minutes before my Presidential lecture will be a lifetime memory, in many ways!" - another President to mention the lecture - should I be worried?

Mark is now heavily involved in the iGeo competition, which takes students around the world to compete in the annual Geography Olympiad. The 2019 team had particular success, and the momentum behind this competition has been building, although the Pandemic has sadly curtailed competition and travel for a while.

Mark has been described by other Presidents as a particularly talented teacher and colleague, including those he has been worked with personally over the years.

Why the GA matters to Mark?

"The GA matters hugely. It is a community of like-minded professionals committed to working with teachers, educators to enrich young peoples lives through geography."

Mark also mentioned the importance of the support of other former GA Presidents as part of the personal journey:

"Many previous presidents were all very supportive and encouraging during my time as President. Of note however was Professor Michael Bradford. Mike was my lecturer at the University of Manchester and was doubly keen to support me in my year, as conference and the associated futures day was at the University. Mike met with me many times, providing wisdom and guidance, for which I will always be so very grateful. Mike pulled out all the stops to make my presidential term, my 2015 conference and the futures day a great success for everyone."

Images: copyright Bryan Ledgard / GA and used with permission.

Selfie of Mark in his natural habitat sent by Mark himself 

References

Mark has written for a number of GA Publications over the years, and contributed to the materials which are made available for Worldwise Week (formerly Geography Action Week) - former packs can be downloaded from here.

Mark's Presidential Lecture - 'Making an Impact'

https://www.proquest.com/openview/bdae85f83bebfa6979fc8a9b33bd373d/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=28686

As always, any memories of Mark in his time as President, or working with the GA welcome...