What's new on the site ?

July 4th

Busy couple of weeks. See GEOGRAPHYJAZZ for details on :

Trip to Leeds for Frontiers of Geography workshop
Gifted and Talented session at school: Sustainable City planning
Norfolk Geography Conference
Farm Visit to Hall Farm (plus Animoto video on GeographyJazz)

June 23rd

Reading "Here comes everybody" by Clay Shirky. Some very interesting sections. Also listening to Sir Ken Robinson's Benjamin Franklin lecture at the RSA from last week thanks to Ewan's tip-off.

Finished tidying out my room, and putting in loads of copying ready for next year.

Added some more detail to the KEY STAGE 3 PAGE, which is ready for next year's changeover to the new PoS.

June 14th

A lot has been done in the last week or so:

Added over 120 pictures to my Flickr page
Added some new presentations to my Slideshare page
Added several new sections to website
Done some gardening
Filled a lot of black bin bags
Discovered WORDLE - which I love a lot...
Made progress on a number of presentations that I have to develop...

June 4th

An eventful few days. Added some new materials to my FLICKR stream of Norfolk coast. Going to be exploring the rebranding of this area over the next few months.

Also had a trip down to London on Monday to collect my exciting award. I have also put some FLICKR images there too. Today, it was over to Dereham for an 'A' level Geography network meeting. Did a brief half hour or so on some ideas for developing fieldwork. Here is the presentation for those who were looking for it...

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May 24th

The end of an eventful half term. Added some new resources and links. Going to be uploading a range of materials in a final bit of activity. Over the summer, some changes will take place in the website.

Thanks to Steve Kitson for sending me some EURO 2008 RESOURCES for display and/or game to play with groups.

May 20th

Another day assembling coursework portfolios and doing various other projects, particularly the succession planning for next year, and also the Secondary Geography Quality Mark.

Added an update to the YEAR 12-13 TRANSITION TASK, and also a new CYCLONE NARGIS page related to that.

May 17th

A very busy week, which started with sorting all the GCSE coursework submissions and plenty of other work too.

Also the final confirmation of some big news, which is the reason for the site update.

I have a new job: as Curriculum Project Development Leader (Secondary) for the Geographical Association, starting in September (although the work has already started really...)

Thanks to all those who have helped support the development of the site over the last 7 years. Over the summer, I will be editing it down to the key pages, and changing the focus towards CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT and some exciting new ACTION PLAN FOR GEOGRAPHY 2 projects. Also got 20 years worth of accumulated stuff to sort through.

Check out the BLOGS, particularly my new LIVING GEOGRAPHY blog, which will detail all the projects that I will be involved in.

My diary is already starting to fill up with events and hopefully I'll be coming soon to a curriculum development event near you. Contact me via the e-mail on the home page if you want to know more...

Last night it was a quick dash over to Norwich for a concert by Irish band Altan. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh's singing and the musicianship was superb.

May 10th

A week of high pressure and hot weather.

Cyclone NARGIS resources now added to the HURRICANE page.

Changed the HOME PAGE as I'm sure you've noticed...

Useful materials in the TIMES MAGAZINE related to RURAL LIFE.

May 3rd

Up to Sheffield yesterday.

Took the opportunity to go up into the Peak District, and then later into the CULTURAL QUARTER. (Interesting to see the temporary 'rebranding' of the city around the World Snooker finals), and the Andrew Motion poem on the side of Sheffield Hallam which I'd never seen up 'til now...

Also caught up with a '3 Minute Wonder' film about 'Rocky' who spends 6 days piling up stones at the base of Hunstanton cliffs to help protect them.

Also check out version 3 of EARTHBROWSER. It's only a $19.95 download, which is well worth it !

Off to sort coursework now... Have a great Bank Holiday !

April 25th

Thanks to Helen Young for sending me details of a new fieldwork resource on the Chew Valley that she has added to her excellent GEOGRAPHYGEEK site.

Thanks also for the invitations to 2 conference events, particularly the one at the Open University, which would both have been excellent, but I'm unable to attend. You know who you are.. Also played in a bowls match for a staff team against the Old Lennensians (alumni association) - didn't quite go according to plan.

Spent quite a bit of time in the last day or so doing some further work on the new EDEXCEL 'A' LEVEL. Thanks to all the NING contributors.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7368326.stm - a useful BBC Video report on the divide between London and the rest of the UK

April 23rd

St. George's Day. Added some new REBRANDING materials, and also on AS SKILLS PAPER. Thanks to Adam Lawson for adding some draft AS SoW on the NING. New edition of GA Magazine now available on GA website to download (members only) Thanks also to Emma Johns for her speedy comparison of the new GCSE specifications.

April 20th

A weekend away, but still had to get some geography in there. Went over to Norwich, and from there to the coast: the area that was threatened with flooding (albeit by the end of the century) in story recently in paper: apparently known as the Happing Hundred, as described here: NORFOLK COASTAL REALIGNMENT Pity that the weather was a bit grey, so my FLICKR photos are a bit dull and grey too. Also had a very nice meal (and of course Woodforde's) at the Fur and Feather Inn in Woodbastwick. Also spent a book token I had on the 2008 Good Beer Guide to replace my ageing copy. Went to Happisburgh and past the famous Cliff House cafe, and also to Sheringham, which was plastered with Say NO to Tesco posters.

Also a lot of Morris groups: about 15 of them in Norwich celebrating the life of Norris Winstone. Met up with someone I know who dances for King's Lynn Morris. Thanks to Poppy from the BFI for a copy of "Essentially British"

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1036526.ece - interesting article on educational courses. Good double sided poster on the Arctic and Antarctica in the Independent on Sunday.

April 17th

Almost 2 weeks into the new half term. A story in papers in the Eastern region has been making the national news too. It is suggested that a sizeable chunk (6500 hectares) of Norfolk should be left for the sea to flood, in order to create new habitats, and that the coastline should be realigned further inland. Have added a new page on the NORFOLK COASTAL REALIGNMENT, as this is a perfect contemporary case study which brings in elements of various parts of the course, as well as a focus on MANAGEMENT.

The proposal has been put forward by Natural England (what used to be the Countryside Agency). The story features on the front page of the EDP again today. Also, did you realise that from Tuesday this week, all the fuel you put into your car has to have at least 2.5% biofuel content ?

An alternative, amusing take on the Great British Breakfast: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article3758517.ece

Also enjoyed this Jeremy Clarkson article on the environment: http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article2530063.ece

April 6th

Woke in Kent this morning to several inches of snow ! Had to change our plans for the day as it was settling and not looking like stopping. An 'interesting' journey around the top end of the M25, and then the snow petered out as we drove up through Cambridgeshire. Sunny in Norfolk after all that. Several books waiting for me on my return: REAL ENGLAND and also THE LOST VILLAGE. Watching the FREE TIBET protests on the news as the Olympic torch made its way through London. Tried to work through a range of materials ready for the next few days. Have some SMARTBOARD training to deliver, and also our KS3 planning day which is going to be quite busy I think. Thanks to Val Vannet for sending some materials for the first of the above... Also to Pete Flaxman and Tony Cassidy for their help with PILOT GCSE preparations.

Yesterday, the weather had been rather better as we'd made our way down to the South Coast, and to RYE and CAMBER SANDS. Some images to appear on my FLICKR page when I get a moment. Climbed up the church with my daughter (via the stairs inside...) Don't forget to send some POSTCARDS this summer. A campaign under way to save them as people are sending texts instead...

April 4th

To London again, this time via Kent, where we were staying for a few days. In to the British Museum to see the Terracotta Warriors: the exhibition ends this week so we only just sneaked in. Very impressive exhibition, and also a lot of activities in the Great Court by coincidence. Meal first, and then wandered back through the busy streets around Covent Garden in the evening: more evidence that CBD is not just retailing any more. Also read Dave Gorman's "America Unchained": very enjoyable and read it within the day.

April 1st

Busy day in London yesterday. On the way down, read an excellent article in the Independent by Richard Askwith "Whatever happened to rural England ?" Over to the Victoria and Albert for the CHINA DESIGN exhibition. http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/1636_chinadesignnow/

The Science Museum was setting up for a new exhibition on life in 2050, which opens later in the week. There is a website which has a nice game on it. http://survival.scienceof.com/ - what will life be like in 2050 ? Up to the RGS-IBG and had a break there, then it was back again later in the evening to see David Attenborough speak about Alfred Russell Wallace, which was a splendid event to be present at. I'd been lucky with the ballot again. Just watched National Geographic programme "SIX DEGREES COULD CHANGE THE WORLD" with Mark Lynas. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/sixdegrees/

Enjoyed the segment which explained how cheeseburgers in the USA 'produce' more CO2 than all the 4x4s in the USA.Lots of stories on the value of IMMIGRANTS to the UK: http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4551&edition=1&ttl=20080401135737

Thanks also to Jon Wolton for passing on details of the powerpoint that he used in his RGS sessions on new KS3 which grew out of the one I used in Norwich.

March 30th

Just back from the GA Conference at the University of Surrey. Put together a quick ILLUSTRATED ACCOUNT. Thanks to Simon Renshaw for his quick work at creating the BLOG for our TEACHER'S TOOLKIT workshop. SPC were also involved in several other workshops: notably the BREAKING BOUNDARIES work and the MURDER MYSTERY.

March 20th

Navigated through another week. Final act was to do a 6th form assembly today featuring Mark Beaumont's journey around the world, which has been mentioned many time before. He has now shaved off the rather fine beard, and is also currently DE-TRAINING. Sent the donation in to Mark's JUST GIVING page. Thanks to all who dipped into their pockets, even those who added the Polish coins.... (presumably the people just back from Poland ;) )

March 14th

London yesterday for Edexcel day. Very useful session on the NEW EDEXCEL SPECIFICATION which we shall start teaching from September. Also the year end budget wise for the department. Had a wander down to Fleet St. - classic view of St. Paul's Cathedral up Ludgate Hill. Also reading James Martin's "The Meaning of the 21st Century" and also got "Panicology" - for my Risky World work. "Endless City" book arrived: the size of a small car and full of superb articles. Plenty of content is online too

March 9th

Lots of material on the new report on RURAL LIFE: report on Look East from Great Massingham was a useful one. Dr. Stuart Burgess is the Government's Rural Advocate. Affordable housing (Charles Dewar Close in Great Massingham - needs to have young families housed as this supports local school and local shops and local pub), loss of local services (post offices), problems in farming (including for migrant workers) are 3 problems.

Also added some new material in advance of the Cambridge Field Trip in April. New materials from Fred Pearce book: "Confessions of an Eco Sinner". New POPULATION stories this week: Turkmenistan president offering $250 and free public transport and dental care for life. Also story on Indian women being offered payments to keep female children to full term. More on MILL ROAD TESCO plans. Check out the CAMPAIGN SITE. Also the newly opened GRAND ARCADE in Cambridge (will be open when we go on our fieldtrip)

Just been doing some work on FOOD MILES, and one of the starters is often to talk about "things that we have to import because we can't grow them here..." Thought about producing a powerpoint with some products - are these grown in the UK or not ? Here is one example to start with: Tregothnan Tea grown in Cornwall... Anyone know of any others ?

Also some good news: was successful in a ballot to get a ticket to see David Attenborough speak at the Royal Geographical Society at the end of the month.

Today was the Observer Geography-fest. First up was a free book: the Observer Book of the Earth. Also in the Review section a 4 page section on a new book called ENDLESS CITY. This relates to a book to be published by Phaidon. Here is the supporting WEBSITE which is very good.

March 3rd

New item on BBC News site on RURAL LIFE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7273516.stm - 1 million rural homes in poverty. Also plenty of reports on local news. This is a useful area for focus for AS / A2 students, and will continue to be. Affordable housing at Great Massingham in Norfolk was featured on Anglia Tonight. Also some new CHINA resources and materials for FOOD MILES on how much food is wasted.

Also ENERGY POVERTY: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6062716.stm : life without mains gas in rural areas.