Gill Miller is Senior Lecturer Emerita at the University of Chester.
She has had a long association with the GA, and been involved in a number of committees and SIGs, and is particularly involved in the promotion of the GA's activity in Wales, and support for Welsh teachers.
Her Presidential theme was an important one: "Geography Really Matters!".
As the GA's Conference moved online, Gill's Presidential lecture was also the one that has been viewed by the most people and continues to be viewed. She has been a regular attendee of the Association at Work day, which formed part of GA Conferences for many years and features in many of Bryan Ledgard's photos of those events.
Reference: 2020 Miller, G. Geography really matters! Teaching Geography, 45,2, Summer 2020
It would also be a good idea to show students during options time to encourgage them to take their geography studies further.
The following information was kindly provided by Gill via the Google Form that I set up for all those Presidents who were still able to get in touch.
Gill was born in Tynemouth in 1953.
She told me:
"It was called Northumberland in those days. Now it’s North Tyneside. I migrated regularly between England and Scotland during my school life. When I was 7 we moved to Milngavie, at the northern outskirts of Glasgow and now the start of the West Highland Way. Then to Surrey, in time to do the 11+ in a small village school with a tiny, freezing outdoor swimming pool. Then back to Bearsden in Glasgow, back to Surrey and finally landing ‘home’ in Tynemouth. Along the way, I had some interesting experiences in the Scottish and English styles of education, notably the rote learning and strict regimes in Scotland. But it was the 1960s!"
"I studied for a BSc in Geography at University of Liverpool, then on to complete a PGCE at St Katherine's College, now part of Hope University. Years later in 2004-5 I returned to Liverpool for an MA in Globalisation and Development, which set me up for my post at Chester University. How much geography had changed in those intervening decades!"
On her career, Gill said:
"What a privilege to have had such a wonderful career. I very rarely got up in the morning not wanting to go to work. In my first post at Upton-by-Chester High I was spurred on by passionate environmentalists and a very supportive Head. I was Head of Geography for a year at Tarporley High before becoming a rather young deputy head there, leading the sixth form. In each post I enjoyed the freedom to try new ideas, especially developing fieldwork, and thrived on students becoming as enthusiastic about geography as I was.
After our children were born, I lectured at West Cheshire College, teaching A level geography in one year to re-sit students and also a night class with students aged 25 to 70. How hard those students worked and how committed they were! We focused on understanding the really important concepts and understandings and it was a great pleasure to see them applying their own experiences to the geography of the real world.
I also developed geography modules for the Access course; more pleasure in guiding hesitant late-comers to education and see them flourish as they applied to university.
The final stage of my career was a dream role as Programme Leader for International development at the University of Chester.
I also developed various geography modules such as Emerging Nations, which became the basis for one on my text books. My research area was health in the developing world, and in particular, ageing; the health and welfare of the elderly in Ghana. The caricature of young populations is now out of date, but many countries in the global south still have to address the needs of their ageing populations, in particular conditions such as dementia, diabetes, and other incapacities. As the traditional developing country model of intergenerational living is changing, so older people become more exposed to abandonment and lack of care.
I became involved with moderating and examining A level Geography when I was at West Cheshire. I met Glennis Copnall, then Chief Examiner for Edexcel A level who went on to work for Ofqual and Curriculum Lead for Geography in Wales. She has been my friend and mentor ever since. Through Glennis I had several writing opportunities, with commissioned work from the Welsh Government.
I think my most significant work was editing the Atlas for Wales, published with OUP in 2007, which was given to every member of the Senedd and every secondary school in Wales. Preparing the Welsh edition was interesting, especially in find the right translation for geographical terminology. It was a great thrill when the Atlas received Highly Commended at the GA conference in 2009.
While I was closely associated with Edexcel geography I led many CPD courses.
My favourite and most rewarding was ‘Teaching A-level for the first time’. I took so many of these days, and had such a great time giving young teachers the confidence to teach in depth, facing potentially critical 6th form students. If I was to leave one message for them it would be that learning about geography is a shared endeavour. Teachers don’t have to know all the answers, but we can explore and analyse together to increase our knowledge.
In 2005 I became Chief examiner of A level World Development.
We transformed this subject and examination which became enthusiastically received by students, teachers and parents alike. It enabled young people to explore the current environmental and development issues which concerned them, and was really relevant as well as demanding. Sadly we were forced to withdraw the exam in 2016 – a great loss to the sixth form curriculum, but I console myself with the knowledge that several generations of students now have a mature and knowledgeable understanding of the issues facing the world in the 21st Century.
Other than that, over the last 20 years I have written a fair few articles for Geography Review, books about fieldwork, skills and synoptic case studies. I regularly go to GA branches to give lectures – always a delight when I get a second invitation!"
What was your job when you became President?
"I joined the President’s quartet the year I retired from lecturing at Chester University."
"I have served on the post 16/HE Phase committee for several years, many as Editor of Geog Matters, the annual Post 16/HE newsletter / magazine. It’s an informal conduit for teachers and students to share what they are doing and disseminate case studies, classroom activities and student feedback.
Colleagues on Post 16/HE were very supportive of my President appointment and one colleague immediately suggested the newsletter as a conference theme. It was only a few moments later that ‘Geography really matters!’ was born. And what a great theme it proved to be. I have a reputation as a forthright speaker, and this theme is me, it’s in my bones: geography really does matter to us all, in every walk of life. It helps us navigate our environment and the economic, social, political and cultural influences we place on it.
My connections to Welsh Geography reached the dizzy heights of
GA HQ and I was summoned to discuss the desirablility of forming a
Wales Special Interest Group. We launched at conference in 2012 and since then a small group of us have ‘spread the word’ about the GA in Wales and tried to support Welsh teachers. Our annual bilingual
WelshWise quiz has encouraged many teams to find out more about the geography of Wales.
Why not test yourselves –
all the quizzes are on the GA website here.
The Wales Geography Forum provides for open discussion with colleagues from all corners of the country. Our latest contribution is to provide curriculum scaffolds for themes in the new Curriculum for Wales."
"Why does the GA matter? It’s a great place to commune with like-minded individuals who share the same passion. It’s also a wonderful way to give something back, to support young teachers and students and encourage them to love geography too. I nearly fell off my chair when I was given the GA Award for excellence in 2013! Geography is sometimes under pressure from the educational trends of the time, so we need a strong voice to represent the geography community at local and national levels. And of course the GA is a place where we never stop learning. There’s always something new and relevant in geography to challenge and excite.
Conference is a highlight of the year, but being able to contribute in other ways such as GEO or in publications, is very rewarding."
What would you say were the successes / main memories of your GA Presidential year?
"I would like to think that people ‘got the message’ and that they took to heart that geography really matters! I’m aware that my lecture on Youtube, or bits of it, is still used to encourage students to take geography. I think it helped the geography community come together, and to feel that we’re all involved in a subject which has value and relevance.
The posters we produced are still available for teachers to help them advocate for geography.
In governance terms, one success was in encouraging GA trustees to be proactive critical friends of the Association. We changed the governance structure to separate President from Chair of Trustees. In so doing, by sharing the workload, the presidential leadership is more manageable for practising teachers, not just academics or retireds!
The GA should have leaders from within the profession and I look forward to more practising teachers leading us with their vision and expertise.
"In August 2017 I joined the Chief Executive at a meeting at Scottish RGS in Perth, with the RGS and SAGT. What wonderful headquarters they have! We had a constructive discussion to work more collaboratively in future. This has yet to bear much fruit but I live in hope."
On former GA Presidents:
"I knew Michael Bradford - he was always so encouraging, inclusive and generous with his time.
Hazel Barrett was our external examiner for IDS at Chester. Hugely supportive. She came to the UN in Geneva with our students during her last year and had a great time. She did some great research on FGM, in the Somali population in Bristol.
Professional Associations and committees
2019 - Member, SAGT
2012 - Chair, Special Interest Group for Wales, GA committee
2012 - Chair, Special Interest Group on Transitions into Higher Education, for the Higher Education
Authority – GEES (Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences)
2007 - Member/Fellow of Royal Geographical Society
2009 - Development Studies Association
2008 - Committee member GA Post 16- Higher Education group
2007 Member RGS Development Areas Research Group (DARG)
2001 - Geographical Association (GA)
2013 - Trustee of Five Talents, microfinance NGO
2013 - Trustee of Field Studies Council
2008 - Trustee of Mines Advisory Group (MAG), an international NGO.
2009 - Member, Chester World Development Forum
Work for Accrediting Bodies
2014 - QAA member of Subject Benchmark Statement (Geography) review group.
2014 - University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate: External Reviewer of International
A-level in Geography.
2003 - Chief Examiner of A level World Development Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
2012 - Consultant for OCR A level Geography
2007 - 2008 Consultant for WJEC new A level
2005 - 2009 External Advisor for Higher Tier Geography International Baccalaureate
2004 - 2009 Senior Examiner, Advanced Extension Paper, Geography WJEC:
1998 - 2002 Chief Examiner, Principal Examiner Edexcel Specification A Geography
4. Consultancy
2018 - 2020 Welsh Government, Curriculum for Wales Humanities Stakeholder group
2012 - Higher Education consultant for WJEC A level Geography
2012 - Higher Education consultant for OCR A level Geography
2009 - Visit to Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to review work in progress in Lebanon.
2009 - Resolve International NGO. External consultant
2008 - UCAS Subject panel consultant.
2008 - UCAS/Scottish Advanced and Highers: Tariff Expert group panel
2007 - National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) Key Stage Three Geography assessment materials for QCA.
2004 - Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Performance Descriptors for A level World Development
2002 – 2004 - Field Studies Council staff training: Requirements for fieldwork in A level Geography
Publications
2020 Miller, G. Geography really matters! Teaching Geography, 45,2, Summer 2020
2020 Miller, G. Geography really matters! Primary Geographer, 103, 6-7 Autumn 2020
2017 Miller, G. Global Education Report: So far, so good. Must try harder, Geography Review 29.(tba)
2017 Miller, G. One nation India: the challenges of forging a national identity, Geography Review 29.(tba)
2016 Whaller, R, Adams, C, Miller, G and Schultz, D. Encouraging students to read beyond the core text, Teaching Geography, 41.3, pp103-106.
2016 Miller, G. Water shortages in Sao Paulo, Geography Review 29.3.
2015 Miller, G. what is microfinance? Geography Review 28.3.
2014 Miller, G. Development and traditional societies: the case of the Jarawa, Geography Review 28.1
2014 Miller, G. Do big media campaigns work? Geography Review 27.3
2013 Miller, G. Development and the Media, Geography Review 27.1
2013 Miller, G. The remnants of war, Geography Review, 26.3
2013 Miller, G. Education for Citizenship: Community engagement between the Global South and the Global North, In Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 37.1
2013 Miller, G & Elman, E. Improving the quality of education: Kenya’s next challenge, Geography, 98.1.
2012 Miller, G. Tata: the giant family firm, Geography Review, 26.1
2012 Miller, G., Bourn. D and Bowes, E. Learning about development at A level A study of the impact of the world development a level on young people’s understanding of international development, Institute of Education, Development Education Research Report no.7
2012 Miller, G, Brace. S and Walkington H. GEES Transitions Special Interest Group report, Higher Education Academy
2012 Ribchester, C, Wakefield, K and Miller, G. Examining the impact of pre-Induction online social networking on the student experience, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 36.3
2011 Miller, G. Delhi and the Commonwealth Games, Geography Review, 25. 2
2011 Miller, G. Health in Ghana, Geography Review, 24. 4
2010 Miller, G and Warn, S. Emerging Superpowers: China and India, Geographical Association. Sheffield
2007 ‘Atlas for Wales’ OUP. Oxford. Commissioned by Department of Education, Welsh Assembly and Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
2007 Changing Wales: the new economy’, a DVD / text of 5 programmes for GCSE, GNVQ and A level Geography. Commissioned by Department of Education, Welsh Assembly, Tinopolis, Llanelli.
2005 Miller, G and Holmes, D. Welsh Landscapes: skills in practice Key Stage 3 Birchfield Interactive, Cardiff (Commissioned by Department of Education of the Welsh Assembly)
2005 Multiple Choice questions for AS and A2 Geography, Curriculum Press, London
2004 On-line A level examination resources, Hodder and Stoughton, London
2003 AS Landmark Geography 2nd edition with R. Prosser, V. Bishop and M Raw. Collins Educational
2002 Miller, G and Lane, C. Synoptic Exercises for A level Geography, Hodder and Stoughton, London
2000 Miller, G. Fieldwork Ideas in Action Hodder and Stoughton, London
1999 Miller, G.‘The Global Economic System’ and ‘The Development Process’ in G.Copnall (ed) People Production and Environment. Hodder and Stoughton, London
9.
Conference presentations
2011 Global Health conference, University of Edinburgh, Centre for African Studies: Developing policies for health and welfare of the elderly in Ghana.
2011 International Medical Geography Symposium, University of Durham: Developing policies for health and welfare of the elderly in Ghana.
2011 Royal Geographical Society annual conference: Health and Ageing in Ghana
2011 British Population Studies conference, University of York: Developing policies for health and welfare of the elderly in Ghana.
2010 Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers: Community engagement between the Global North and the Global South
2010 Geographical Association conference: Introducing new book series Top Spec Geography
2009 University of Chester staff conference: Engaging new students before induction using social networking. With C. Ribchester.
2009 Royal Geographical Society/Institute of British Geographers Sixth Form study day: Investigating population change and migration.
2009 Shropshire branch of Geographical Association, Shrewsbury School; Environmental globalisation:
2008 Royal Geographical Society /Institute of British Geographers: Exploring student learning experiences when incorporating digital newsfilm into the undergraduate curriculum. With D. France.
2008 – 2012 Developing Areas Research Group of the RGS: Development Studies at A level
2008 Geographical Association: the new A level in World Development
2008 Chester World Development Forum AGM lecture: China in Africa
2007 & 2008 Cirencester College ‘Aim Higher’ conference,
2007 University of Chester staff conference; A levels and the school – HE transition
2008 North Staffordshire branch of Geographical Association, University of Staffordshire: Food wars; food security
2008 University of Chester - Connections career teachers conference International Development Studies
2008 NEWI Careers conference; Geography at university
2008 Neston High School; Food wars and Studying Geography at Chester;
2002 – 2012 INSET courses for teachers in London / Cardiff / Chester on A level
Geography and World Development
As always, if anyone has further memories of Gill's association with the GA, please get in touch.
