Rachel Bowles

Rachel Bowles is a name closely linked to the GA in many ways, particularly within the area of Primary Geography. She has also been, until recently, a regular attendee of the Charney Manor Primary Conference and a prolific author for many decades, writing for the GA and other publishers and producing a great many books and resource packs.

She was linked with Avery Hill College, and one of several members of that college's staff who contributed to a GA Publication in 1981 for Primary and Middle Schools.

She has also written a number of research papers over the years, during her lengthy work at the University of Greenwich.

She completed an Honours degree in Geography at Bedford College, University of London in 1960. 

Subsequent career : Research Scholarship University of Hull-M.Sc 1962 

PGCE 1962/63 London. 

Teacher geology and geography at The Latymer School 1963-65; 

Senior lecturer Geography in Teacher training first at Edge Hill College, Ormskirk then Avery Hill College, Eltham. 

Honorary Research Associate, University of Greenwich.

Editor and coordinator of the Register of Research in Primary Geography (an independent charity and directory of observations of teaching and learning in the primary classroom and beyond). 

Geographical Association Council member, and an ex- officio member of the GA Early Years Primary Phase Committee (formerly Chair of the Committee) and corresponding member of the GA ICT Special Interest Group

Awarded a GA publication Award 1994

GA Outstanding All Rounder Award 2007

Honorary member of the Geographical Association 2011

Chartered Geographer

Honorary Fellow at Royal Geographical Society with IBG

Here's the citation, when she received her Honorary Fellowship:

From her LinkedIn profile:

Sources:

A research report on Primary education, co-written with a number of former GA President:

https://researchportal.northumbria.ac.uk/en/publications/education-matters-the-state-of-geography-in-english-primary-schoo

https://www.academia.edu/1221105/The_State_of_Geography_in_English_Primary_Schools

Rachel was involved in a series of films for Teachers TV, made by a company called Brook Lapping who I also worked with on three programmes about weather and climate change.

This one on festivals is interesting and you can hear and see Rachel explaining her choice of resources:

https://search.alexanderstreet.com/view/work/bibliographic_entity%7Cvideo_work%7C1781833

Image: Screengrab from Teachers TV (2008), when Rachel was chair of the GA's Primary Phase Committee.

Further information and memories of working with Rachel Bowles would be very welcome. It's been a few years since I last saw her... at Charney.