Emma's educational round-up
A weekly/fortnightly insight into developments within the realm of education.
My recommendations
News
Ofsted
There is plenty of talk about AI at present. Ofsted have recently published new material relating to this, which you may wish to dip into. I know that I shall be doing so as I have an Online Safety Mark (OSM) Assessment to conduct very soon!
How Ofsted looks at AI during inspection and regulation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-ofsted-looks-at-ai-during-inspection-and-regulation
AI in education; how schools and further education (FE) colleges are making it work:
Ofsted schools research linked to AI:
Geographical Association (GA)
https://geography.org.uk/high-quality-geography-fieldwork-for-all-report/
Research shows that fieldwork has a positive impact on pupils’ engagement with their learning; increases their knowledge, skills and understanding; supports their achievement; improves their resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing; and boosts cohesion and a sense of belonging. Yet we are at a pivotal moment for geography fieldwork in schools.
The report, ‘High-quality geography fieldwork for all’ written by Dr Rebecca Kitchen, draws on the views of over 400 teachers who responded to GA consultations on fieldwork and the geography curriculum, as well as evidence from schools’ submissions to the GA’s Geography Quality Mark accreditation and discussions with geography teachers and key stakeholders.
Access a copy of the report here: https://portal.geography.org.uk/shop/view/P9781899086406
Website
Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people to be part of the solution to plastic pollution – so that we have cleaner streets, oceans and beautiful communities. Will you and your school contribute to Plastic Free July by pledging to refuse single-use plastics?
Find out how to get involved at https://www.plasticfreejuly.org/
Resource
Secondary
The Economist Educational Foundation’s Topical Talk section of their website has just published their latest FREE teaching resource, which is very timely given the current heatwave that many within the UK and Europe are experiencing.
People on the move: how climate change impacts lives.
Who are climate migrants? Why are their numbers rising? Discuss what is driving the crisis and what can be done to address it.
Download the lesson plan and accompanying resources here: https://talk.economistfoundation.org/resources/people-on-the-move-how-climate-change-impacts-lives
Book/s
Summer Reading Challenge 2025
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge takes on a rather geographical theme, namely ‘Story Garden – Adventures in Nature and the Great Outdoors’. Visit the following websites to discover more: https://readingagency.org.uk/the-summer-reading-challenge-2025-story-garden-takes-reading-to-the-great-outdoors/ and https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
And, one for you!
I always try to read a book that is set where I am travelling to or spending time during my summer holiday if I can.
In last week’s Saturday Review section of The Times, there was a feature entitled ‘Around the world in a dozen novels’, which caught my eye. ‘Pick your holiday destination - then pack a book to match. John Self on stories with a sense of place.’
A few of their recommendations are listed below:
France: Maigret in Vichy by Georges Simenon (1968)
Paris: The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen (1935)
Greece: The Anthenian Murders by Jose Carlos Somoza (2000)
Barcelona: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (2001)
Morocco: Let It Come Down by Paul Bowles (1952)
Berlin: The Artificial Silk Girl by Irmgard Keun (1932)
Northern Italy: The Garden of the Finzi-Continis by Giorgio Bassani (1962)
Sicily: Beautiful Antonio by Vitaliano Brancati (1949)
Rome: The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone by Tennessee Williams (1950)
Los Angeles: The Long Good-bye by Raymond Chandler (1953)
Japan: Sanshiro by Natsume Soseki (1908)
Central America: The Mosquito Coast by Paul Theroux (1981)
Why not do the same (although probably something a little more light-hearted and contemporary), and encourage your students to rise to this challenge too?
Podcast
GeogPod
The latest podcast from the Geographical Association (GA) turns the microphone over to the current presidential team:
Hina Robinson - GA President 2024-25,
Denise Freeman - Immediate Past President 2023-24, and
Catherine Owen - GA Vice President and upcoming president for 2025-26.
In this episode, they talk about their special roles, not only with the GA, but as women leading geography in state schools and how their relationship with the geographical community has developed over time. Find out about their personal passions for working with other teachers and geographers, inspiring the next generations and how geography teachers are continuing to bridge the gaps to support each other and know the importance of the subject.
Listen here: https://geogpod.podbean.com/e/episode-94-special-edition-geography-connects-everyone-and-makes-a-difference/
TV programme/movie clip
Many of us will be tuned into Wimbledon 2025 or UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 over the next couple of weeks or so. Why not consider ‘Where is the geography?’ at the same time? Could you use a clip from these events as a stimulus for your final lessons in Term 6 at all? Initiate a whole class discussion around the issue of sustainability or prompt youngsters to answer the following enquiry question, ‘How sustainable is … ?’. The following are good starting points:
Wimbledon 2025: https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/atoz/sustainability.html
UEFA Women’s Euro 2025: https://www.uefa.com/womenseuro/news/029a-1e1fcff7bed2-a60a107ad6f1-1000--uefa-women-s-euro-2025-sustainability-in-action/
App
Last week, I attended a CPD GIS day led by Robert (Bob) Lang and held at the University of Worcester. Read more about the event here: https://create2inspire.co.uk/2025/06/23/an-immersive-gis-day/
We were introduced to, and trialled, ESRI’s ArcGIS Survey123 in the field; well worth having a play with if you have not done so already. Further information about the app can be found at https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-survey123/overview
‘Geography in the news’
‘The seagulls have landed: why gulls are encroaching on Britain’s towns’
Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2025/jun/21/the-seagulls-have-landed-why-gulls-are-encroaching-on-our-towns
CPD event
GlosGeog, Gloucestershire’s local Geographical Association (GA) branch, also runs events for teachers, ECTs, trainees, HE educators and anyone with a passion for/interest in geography. It is currently FREE to join. Complete the Google Form here or contact Peter Vujakovic (Secretary): peter.vujakovic@canterbury.ac.uk to ensure that you do not miss out on any events planned for the next academic year.
Save the date!
The next virtual Primary Geography Subject Leader Network (PGSLN) meeting will take place on Friday 26th September, from 9.00 am to 11.45 am approx. Details will be posted via Eventbrite shortly. Following our usual ‘educational round-up’, there will be input from Mark Enser, former HMI and National Lead for Geography at Ofsted.
Competition
Foyles Young Poets of the Year
The Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award is now open for entries from young people between the ages of 11 and 17 years (the deadline date is 31st July 2025). Individuals can submit a poem on a theme of their choice. Why not encourage youngsters to write a poem based on a place or geographical feature? The competition is FREE to enter, either online or by post, and all entrants gain a certificate. There are some great prizes on offer, such as membership to The Poetry Society, lots of goodies and help with honing your writing skills.
Access the following link for more information: https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/
Opportunity for pupils
If you missed GlosGeog’s last event aimed at primary-aged pupils, then do not fret!
Watch this reel sent in by the Year 5 teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Nympsfield, Gloucestershire: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GXuSTX8GY/
Read more about the morning here, including photographs of the children in action, their work and pupil and staff voice: https://create2inspire.co.uk/2025/06/27/glosgeog-embraces-nationalfestivaloffieldwork/
A repeat of this FREE event is being held virtually on Thursday 10th July, from 10.30 am to 12.15 pm, and there are now just two school places left. See below for further details:
Hope the above provides some inspiration and saves you time. Do let me know if you make use of any of the recommendations or have others that I have missed; I do love to hear about, and see evidence of, pupils in action both in and beyond the classroom.
This is the last Substack before the summer holidays. Make sure you have some well-deserved down-time. Safe travels if you are venturing further afield; no doubt, taking numerous photographs and gathering potential artefacts to support future teaching and learning along the way!
Emma Espley