As I start to get to grips with thinking about teacher training for everyone, I’m struck by the plurality of experiences that Geographers could have had to arrive at Day 1 of a New School, and the different levels of confidence and experience they’ll walk in with – versus what we might expect them to have.

Drawing on Andrea Tapsfield (2019)’s work, a quick reflection of the National Curriculum and KS4 expertise (GA Link) shows a vast range of topics and skills to be covered by the typical Geography teacher across human, physical, fieldwork and quantitative/qualitative skills. Very few trainees will arrive confident in all areas: I know I certainly didn’t. But as a young NQT, I trained in “my exam board” topics, and the curriculum of “my school” – not as a Geographer equipped to deal with everything in any place. I’d never studied, let alone taught, Arid Environments before I needed to as a Physical Geography specialist!

So my question is this: what would you have wanted? For teachers who’ve been NQT this year, or people whose NQT experience was multiple decades ago, what do you think you’d like to see in a training programme, and what do you think would be of most value?

I’m genuinely interested in all replies – via DM, via email, or as a comment thread 😊

“Where’s your gown?”

For most people in education, I suspect, this is a completely bewildering question. Why would they possibly need something that they last wore on graduation – and even then, probably hired it?

I suspect many of the people who can answer that question (normally with “on my office door” or something similar) work – like I have done for over a decade – in the independent sector, where the occasional ritual remains alive and kicking. Staff wear gowns for duties, or for assemblies and formal occasions like Prize Givings (back when those were things…) – and as archaic as it might seem, there has always been something rather lovely about seeing your staff clad in their academic regalia. It’s a reminder, not just of their profession, but of their scholarship and the rich tapestry of their own stories and journeys.

But for now, I am hanging up my gown, and stepping away from the classroom.

It’s been a wonderful privilege to be Head of Geography at a fabulous school, and be part of an astonishing journey of transformation. I’ve enjoyed curriculum challenges, timetables, and all of the myriad complexity of domestic and international field trips, enirchment, students and UCAS and university destinations galore, and the enormous honour of leading and coaching wonderful teachers to be the best versions of themselves. I’ve been part of a few cadet units as a CCF (RAF) officer, and loved watching students fly – literally and figuratively. I’ve been a small part of students’ lives and their learning about the world – and there really has been no greater pleasure than helping them on their way: whether that’s been with enthusiastic classroom understanding of earth.nullschool.net and the global atmospheric circulation, or taking their first steps towards personal statements and out in to the wider world.

On Monday, together with many more across the country in Summer Institute and slightly different roles, I join Teach First as part of their Curriculum team – hoping to bring a bit of my Geographical understanding to play a small part in helping build forward in to new and exciting directions. I’m delighted that my next move will keep me in the subject – and subject community – that I’ve loved for more than two decades, and am looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead, and the complexities of how we train, develop and mentor the next generations of Geography teachers under the umbrella of the Early Career Framework.

There are plenty of things I won’t miss about teaching. TAGs, for a start, and the high-stakes, short notice nature of the pandemic world have taken huge amounts of joy from teachers – and students and their families – over the last two years. I struggle with witnessing the mental health crisis that our students confront daily, and know that their strengths and courage will continue to be inspirational.

But what I will miss, more than anything, are the people. Students and colleagues become like a family to you – perhaps more in a crisis year than any other. Like the old war movies, “you don’t know man, you weren’t there” might well be uttered by teachers of the COVID years, or in whispered thousand yard stares when “TAG” is mentioned at some distant unknowable future time. The friends I’ve made have lifted me in the tough times; have shared joy in the best times, and for all others in between, have been the source of hilarity, wisdom and friendship.

To JJ, Sam, Rebecca, Rob and Mike – who taught me how to be a Geographer and a teacher; to Joe, and Mark who took a chance on an NQT and let him fly; and to Sara and Liz, who taught me how to care and look after everyone. To Esmond, Grove, Ben, Jason, Rich and Ted – who taught me to coach, lead, fly and officer.

To Nick and Andy – who supported my first steps in to leadership; to Nick F, Jade and Alex who helped the Sixth Form & UCAS dreams be enabled, to Rachael and Peter and Emily who were the best team I could ever ask for; and to Robin, Hilary, Debbie, Dave, Patricia, Gareth & Bex, Jack, Nicola, Emma, Amelia and Tim, who made life, crosswords and the world a bit brighter by allowing me to share some of their light!

And to all those who I’ve been luck to work with virtually – thank you for your inspiration, support and friendship. I’ll see you around, as I stay in this wonderful subject, mentoring and coaching community that we occasionally call Twitter…

So to you, my friends, to you.

At the moment, there is not a single point of reference for students considering a Geography (or related) course.

There are plenty of excellent separate components of advice – whether that’s about the nature of the course, or how to write a personal statement – but I think it would be great to have a single, community-written, reference point that provides all students with access to high quality advice and thinking from those who know!

Working with the fabulous @routesjournal, we’re hoping to create a library of ideas. This should reflect great advice from people who give it (e.g. tutors, academics, UCAS specialist teachers), but also the lived experience and personal advice of students.

We want to talk about:

• What’s on offer, and what you might want to consider – all of the related degrees and fields you could join from Geography
• How you go about making choices – what you could look at, how to make the most of Open Days (and virtual ones!) and how you narrow it down
• How you write a great personal statement for Geography, and get in to the community & academic world
• How you prepare for any interviews, assessments or components of that application.

Routes is, I believe, uniquely positioned to bridge that community – but I’m hoping to get inspiration and advice from everyone – particularly any former students of mine who happen to be still connected with me.

If you think you can help, I’d love to hear from you – contact me via Twitter (@DoctorPreece), and I’ll be hugely grateful for anything you can share.