2008 - Working for the GA

It was in September 2008 that I started work for the Geographical Association. I worked there for three years, and it was the best time of my professional life and every day was CPD as I travelled across the UK and Europe, learning, writing, teaching and pushing forward the idea of what school geography could be.

I worked with many wonderful geographers, and had the chance to visit hundreds of schools and work with thousands of teachers as we worked to deliver the projects funded by the Action Plan for Geography and meet the KPI targets.

See the recent post on John Lyon for more on the time we worked together at Solly Street.

I kept notebooks all the way through that period of three years, to jot down everything I was doing, and also keep agendas of meetings etc.

Here they are:

When my job was made redundant I was bereft and thanks to many people who offered me some help in the next few years. I thanked them here.

Particular thanks as always to Claire Kyndt for changing that around 8 years ago.

Solly Street - 2009

Pictures of GA Staff at work in 2009 by Wendy North.

It's amazing what the small team at GA HQ can achieve. There have been changing numbers and roles over the years, and movement from volunteer to paid staff as well, but they always punch well above their weight, and thanks go from all Presidents to the team at Solly Street.

Top image:

Front to back: Nicola Donkin, Lucy Oxley, Anne Greaves

Bottom image, left to right: Dorcas Brown, Fran Royle, Ruth Totterdell, Ben Major.

Update

Ben moved on from the GA to do his Masters at the IoE, and then on to do a PhD

Benjamin Major is on the ESRC 1+3 scheme and has just started his PhD in Geography Education Research at the Institute of Education having already completed his MRes there this year. Ben has an interest in the topics of knowledge and curriculum, and particularly in looking at these from a social or critical realist perspective. 

Solly Street - 2007

The building between Solly Street and Edward Street were demolished in the summer of 2007. Re-building of flats has now taken place and the flats are largely occupied by students from Sheffield University.
View towards Netherthorpe. 

Picture: Wendy North

2007: Action Plan for Geography Events

I've already blogged about the Action Plan for Geography, which funded a whole range of CPD, activity, events, and support for teachers.

This was the brochure for some of the events that took place in the early years of the APG, just before I joined the GA (more on that in future blog posts).

GA Action Plan for Geography Events Booklet from GeoBlogs