Outstanding Leadership of a Geography Department

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Effective leadership starts with a clear vision, while strategy focuses on the actions that turn that vision into reality. This brand-new course will consider what it takes to achieve excellence in a Geography department and the pivotal role of the Head of Geography in maintaining this excellence.  Throughout the course, we’ll dive into curriculum development, teaching and learning practices, target setting, and methods for monitoring and evaluating both progress and attainment. Additionally, we’ll explore how to share your vision to create a curriculum that fosters curiosity, skill development, enquiry and fieldwork, and prioritises well-being; ultimately preparing students for future employment. By the end of the course, you’ll walk away with practical, actionable methods for driving your department toward excellence.

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BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

•  Explore the characteristics of a successful Geography department
• Examine the qualities and skills of an outstanding Head of Geography
• Effectively evaluate and develop your current curriculum model
• Learn about strategies to manage change successfully
• Develop successful assessments and tracking systems
• Ways to raise the profile of Geography in school and the wider area 
• Take away strategies, specific to Geography, to lead and inspire outstanding teaching and learning

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PROGRAMME

10.00am: Excellent Leadership, Vision and Curriculum Planning in Geography

• Reviewing the qualities and skills of an outstanding Head of Geography
• Producing a clear vision
• Evaluating current curriculum models
• Developing a rich geographical curriculum that is seen as highly valuable in today’s world

• Planning for progress in geographical knowledge and understanding
• Embedding procedural knowledge (geographical skills and techniques) across the curriculum, and sequencing enquiry-based learning to support progression in fieldwork

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11.15am: Break

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11.30am: Leading Outstanding Teaching and Learning for Geography

• What a high-quality Geography department looks like
• Being at the forefront of latest pedagogy and practice
• Strategies for establishing, maintaining and promoting high-quality teaching and learning
• How a head of department can model outstanding teaching and learning, and support colleagues
• Effective use of geographical resources in lessons to challenge and support students
• Developing literacy, numeracy and oracy

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12.30pm: Lunch

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1.30pm: Developing the Geography Department

• How to successfully lead change with colleagues
• Effective monitoring and evaluation
• Strategies for maintaining high quality teaching over time
• Forming conditions for consistency across the department
• Creating professional development opportunities for staff at different stages of their career
• Exploring efficient and effective ways to support non-specialist teachers
• Effective strategies to stretch your budget to create the conditions for outstanding performance
• Making the right appointments and coaching for successful performance
• Reflecting upon and developing ways of approaching key challenges faced by heads of Geography

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2.15pm: Assessment and Progress of all students

• How to create relevant tracking and assessment to promote student outcomes

• Ensuring the inclusion of activities which promote learning, independence, and a love of Geography
• Using data effectively for monitoring and feedback, to lead to excellent performance
• Boosting attainment of the least able across the Key Stages
• Stretching and challenging the most able – key strategies and approaches

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3.15pm: Break

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3.20pm: Raising the profile of the Geography Department

• Ensuring Geography is seen as a leading department within the school and wider area
• Creating successful links across the school curriculum to enrich students’ lives
• Approaches to creating valuable partnerships outside the school

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3.50pm: Q&A

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4.00pm: Depart