John Hopkin has served in many different roles with the GA over the years, and is still working on projects with the GA and offering his skills in the service of the Association.
His main career has been based in Birmingham, where he worked as teacher, then as an advisory teacher amd advisor. He then worked at the GA as Head of Accreditation, and particularly involved in the work of the Global Learning Programme as well, coordinating the GA's involvement with that project and working to develop CPD in critical thinking.
His main career has been based in Birmingham, where he worked as teacher, then as an advisory teacher amd advisor. He then worked at the GA as Head of Accreditation, and particularly involved in the work of the Global Learning Programme as well, coordinating the GA's involvement with that project and working to develop CPD in critical thinking.
As an author, he has been involved in the writing and editing of numerous geography publications for schools, dating back over 30 years, which include some of the GYSL books (pictured), alongside another former GA President John Westaway together with more academic publications including with David Lambert.He has continued to be associated with the GA in many different ways, and even now he has been working on some new online student materials for the GEO project, coordinating some of the content for that new website. Take a look if you haven't already.
The following information was provided by John himself via the Google Form which I set up for more recent Presidents.
John was born in 1954, in Penarth, Glamorgan, and went to school in Bristol before attending the University of Wales (Swansea), then Birmingham.
He started out as a Teacher before moving to Local Authority Advisor, and then worked on the GA staff (possibly uniquely for a President). He has worked as a textbook author since 1986. When he became GA President he was working as a School Improvement advisor in Birmingham. He sent me several images, including one here taken at Solly Street before the view towards the hills was blocked by student accommodation.
His conference theme was Progress in Geography. This was part of a strategic pushback by the Association (in partnership with David Lambert) in favour of subjects at a time when they seemed under threat. John also wanted to argue for a dynamic subject, particularly in the way we represented the rest of the world.
See the earlier post on the official opening of Solly Street during John's Presidency.
I asked John why the GA mattered to him:
"I first got involved in a short-lived geography and science working group around 1987-88 in the run-up to the first National Curriculum. I then joined the Assessment and Examinations Working Group (AEWG), eventually becoming chair. John still serves on the AEWG Committee to this day. I then chaired Education Committee before becoming President.
I asked John why the GA mattered to him:
"I first got involved in a short-lived geography and science working group around 1987-88 in the run-up to the first National Curriculum. I then joined the Assessment and Examinations Working Group (AEWG), eventually becoming chair. John still serves on the AEWG Committee to this day. I then chaired Education Committee before becoming President.
A fairly well-worn route to the presidency, though I didn't see it at the time."
"I think we had a successful year with close strategic working with the CE. I think presidents following personal enthusiasms for their year is probably a good thing - but there also need to be a fair proportion where the presidential year is also strategic for the association. I guess everyone remembers their lecture - I enjoyed preparing for it and giving it, though at the time it was a bit touch and go because the tech people at Guildford couldn't get the presentation to work on their equipment. So top tip - bring your own laptop as well. Also the keynote from Hans Rosling was fantastic - we were lucky to get him (thanks Lucy) and it was extremely well received."
Image copyright:Bryan Ledgard and the GA (from Flickr account)
Hopkin, John. “Sampling the World.” Teaching Geography, vol. 36, no. 3, 2011, pp. 96–97. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23755596. Accessed 4 May 2021.Copy
It was a pleasure indeed to meet Hans and see that during my time working for the GA
Image copyright:Bryan Ledgard and the GA (from Flickr account)
The most recent GA project that John has been involved with is our new 11-14 textbook with teacher materials. He was one of the editors. The textbook is excellent.
References
Presidential Address, 2011
Hopkin, John. “Progress in Geography.” Geography, vol. 96, no. 3, 2011, pp. 116–123. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41320394. Accessed 8 May 2021.Report on the Global Learning Project - written by John
Download as a PDF on this link:
Hopkin, J. and Owens, P. (2016) ‘Critical thinking in geography’ Primary Geography, 91, 3 p.
23 https://www.geography.org.uk/Journal-Issue/e0bf0aca-54c6-4081-9603-9a5ded38a2ac
Critical Thinking project website
Practice Guide: this is a very valuable document and well worth downloading.
Update July 2023
John was recently announced as the GA's new Honorary Treasurer. He will take over from Bob Digby, who held the role for six years following the retirement of Brian Ellis from the role. Thanks to John for stepping in to this important role in the governance of the association.
John will start his role in September 2023.
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