This week, SQA have published Understanding Standards materials for units in the following geography courses.   
-National 3: Global Issues unit
-National 5: Human Environments unit
-Higher: Global Issues unit and Human Environments unit.

These materials are available from the SQA secure website and you can arrange access to them through your SQA Co-ordinator. They must be stored securely and treated as confidential.

In 2016 a wide ranging consultation about the Higher Geography Course was carried out by the Subject Implementation Manager.

SQA are requesting feedback on possible changes to the Higher Geography course – these changes are based on the outcome of that consultation. 

SAGT would appreciate if members could complete the questionnaire in addition please share the document with other geography teachers in your schools and local authorities. 

Please return the completed questionnaire to joan.highton@sqa.org.uk by Friday 24th November 2017. 

SAGT committee are shocked and saddened  to hear of the death of one of our respected  members. Morven was a hardworking, enthusiastic and much loved teacher who will be missed by staff and pupils alike. She gave a Hotspots presentation at our recent conference. Our thoughts are with Morven’s family,friends  and  colleagues at Grove Academy. 
 

Do you want to have more of a say in SAGT at committee level? Would you like to add to your CV? Do you have good numeracy skills?

Marjorie is stepping down as treasurer in October and we would really like a committed SAGT member who could step into her shoes.The post will officially start in October but it would be a good idea if you could shadow her for a few months prior to this .
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The treasurer would be required to attend 4 full committee meetings and 4 executive meetings each year, be responsible for the full SAGT accounts and expenses and will receive a small enumeration, and expenses, for this job.

Tasks of the Treasurer:                       
To maintain accurate records of SAGT finances
To run the SAGT accounts
To complete the documentation required for the bank accounts
To complete the documentation required for auditors
To complete the documentation required for OSCR
To pay expenses to Committee /Exec
To liaise with President
To liaise with Subs secretary re subs bank account
To liaise with Conference Convenor re conference account
To pay invoices / costs of SAGT incurred expenses e.g. CPD events
To produce a report / accounts for Executive meetings / committee meetings/ AGM
To book and pay for venue for meetings
To gather the applications for travel grants and to present to committee for their consideration
To “keep an eye” on income / costs

If you would like to enquire about the vacancy please email: sagtpresident@gmail.com

Free CPD for SAGT members – ‘LAFI’ day (LAFI = lesson and fieldwork ideas)

Saturday 20th May at Edinburgh Academy from 9.30am – 3.00pm

Speakers from Geobus,  Field Studies Centre, Geographical Asssociation and current geography teachers. Limited number of spaces. Registration details will follow later this month. 

Any queries should be emailed to: sagtcpd@gmail.com

There has been a recent decision to discontinue the availability of TWIG on GLOW by the Scottish Government / Education Scotland from 30th June 2015 due to alleged under-utilisation. There are many clips suitable for use in Geography under the Earth Sciences and Human Geography sections. 

If you would like to see this resource continue to be available [free of charge] you can sign the petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/retain-twig

If you would like to make a more direct case you may email your local authority’s Glow Key Contact, list of emails here: http://connect.glowscotland.org.uk/about/glow-key-contacts/, QIO, STEM/Science Develeopment Officer or Patricia Kemp the Head of Online Services at TWIG (pkemp@twig-world.com). 

The Scottish Parliament Education and Skills Committee is calling for views on its inquiry into teacher workforce planning for Scotland’s schools.

​http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/CurrentCommittees/104266.aspx

Responses can be via
– questionnaire (available at the link) to be returned to es.submissions@parliament.scot by close of play on Thursday 20th April. The questionnaires are specifically intended to gain the perspective of: Teachers, Trainee Teachers, School Staff (not teachers) and Headteachers and Senior Staff.
or
– written submissions of no more than 3 sides of A4 to es.submissions@parliament.scot by 5pm on Wednesday 26th April. 

Please share this information with anyone working in schools in Scotland.

Fieldwork Development Weekend
27 – 29th May
At Lagganlia Centre for Outdoor Learning
Kincraig, Inverness-shire, PH21 1NG

Free programme for all teachers + Free transport from Edinburgh
This event aims to provide practitioners with confidence and ideas to deliver creative, quality fieldwork in a relevant context.
Aimed primarily at teachers of Biology, Geography and Environmental Science, we will cover ideas for investigations and fieldwork skills pertinent to all levels including CfE Higher and Advanced Higher.
Accommodation and catering are available at Lagganlia.  This is free to teachers in City of Edinburgh Council schools and available at cost for non-CEC teachers.  
To register, or for more information, please email Andrew.Bagnall@edinburgh.gov.uk

Programme overview:
 
Friday 27th May, 18:00 –
Gathering data; part 1:  A chance to set a multitude of equipment to gather data on every aspect of our surrounding environment.
There’s an app for that: Using technology to capture fieldwork data
Dinner & social
 
Saturday 28th May, 09:00 – 18:00
Using our environment:  A holistic approach to investigating the environment through fieldwork
Gathering data; part 2:   Retrieve the equipment set Friday evening and record the data
Using the data; part 1:    The role of technology in data analysis and display
Using the data; part 2:    Application of statistics to analyse and describe the data
 
Sunday 29th May, 09:00 – 13:00
Sites to impress:  Some local highlights with great opportunities for fieldwork
 
Attendance for only part of the programme is possible – please email for details

There appears to have been a misinterpretation of some comments that were made at a meeting and I would like to clarify a couple of points:
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All three Geography Principal Assessors, for National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher, are qualified and experienced geographers. In addition the new geography Subject Implementation Manager (SIM), is also a qualified and experienced geographer. The secondment for the previous SIM ended because her school was unable to release her for a longer period than previously agreed.

E.Batty , SAGT president 2015-2017