geographical association branches are they the bridge between schools and universities?
TRANSCRIPT
Geographical Association branches
Are they the “bridge” between schools and universities?
GA branch survey 2007
• In Spring 2007 a full survey of all branches was undertaken
• 32 out of 36 active branches responded to the survey.
• Frances Soar of the GA distributed the surveys
• Survey conducted by Teresa Davison and Richard Yarwood
Survey results
• 65% of branches have been operating for over 40 years and only 15% are “new wave” branches
• 25% of all branch activities are lectures aimed at 16+ students
• 22% are for the World Wise Quiz
• 21% are lectures aimed at the general public
Membership
• 23 branches had up to 19 members from school staff
• 7 branches had over 100 school students as members
• 22 branches had up to 19 members who were university staff
• 7 branches had up to 19 university students as members
• 13 branches had up to 19 members who were from the general public
• It would appear that there is a strong link between schools’ needs and what the branches are providing
Has membership changed in the last 5 years?
Membership
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1
nu
mb
er o
f b
ran
ches
yes
no
don't know
no reply
Why?
• INCREASE• Better advertising• Good programme• Increase in school
membership• More retired have joined• Non-academic programme
introduced• More PGCE students
attending
• DECREASE• Fewer teachers attending• Decline in school membership• Lack of GA publicity• Younger teachers not
attending• Membership
ageing/attendance declining• If programme is not A level
specific teachers/students will not attend
On average how many attend meetings?
attendance
0
2
4
6
8
10
1
average numbers attending
num
ber o
f bra
nche
s
1 to 20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120
What influences turnout?
• Relevance to A level • Publicity• Keenness of staff• Choice of speaker• Good workshops• Possibility of fieldtrips
• 30 positive comments were made
• Weather• Clashes with school
events• Teachers’ workload• Distance of travel
• 22 negative comments were made
What influences turnout?
• Are meetings well attended?
55% said yes
negative views
teachers' workload
clashes with schoolevents
teachers' family orworkload commitments
weather
What influences turnout? positive views
relevance to A level
publicity
choice of speaker
Which groups attend meetings and are committee members?
attendance
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
state schoolteachers
state schoolpupils
private schoolteachers
members ofthe public
universitylecturers
committee members
0
5
10
15
20
25
state schoolteachers
universitylecturers
How are committee members chosen?
• 41% were by election
• Interesting comments
“can’t get people to help” =2
“do it all myself” =2
interested individuals putting themselves forward =5
Why do you serve on the committee?
Why do you serve on the committee?
0
5
10
15
20
to promoteGeography
enablesbranch to
continue toexist
retired HumanitiesSpecialistCollege
obligation
bran
ches
Where do you hold your meetings?
•
42%
38%
Links with universities
• 91% of branches had links with a UK university
• Most branches felt that they could be better supported by universities e.g. arranging lectures
• Lectures for prospective HE students• Help with advertising• However 4 branches said no further help
needed
Is there more that the GA could do to support branches?
• More advertising on the website• Active list of speakers• Free entry for GA branch committee members to
GA events• Events insurance• Headed notepaper• Offer prizes for local World Wise Quiz events• Names of members in local area (these are a small selection of the comments
made)
How do you advertise?
• Programme 27%
• Website 13%
• Through schools 22%
• Universities 11%
Does your branch has its own website?
0
5
10
15
20
yes no don’t know beingdeveloped
lapsed
bra
nch
es
Does your branch have its own website?
Does your branch have links to Humanities status schools?
Links with Humanities Schools
yes
no
don't know
How is your branch funded?
How is your branch funded?
subs
entrance fees
Specialism money fromschool
How do you choose topics?
How do you choose topics?
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theme availablity committeesuggestions
suitable for Alevel
local/widerissues
bra
nch
es
How do you choose speakers?
How do you choose speakers?
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labi
lity
dist
ance
cost
pers
onal
cont
acts
GA
con
fere
nce
spea
kers
GA
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aker
list
univ
ersi
ty li
nks
seen
som
ewhe
re e
lse
reco
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enda
tions
bra
nch
es
Do you have difficulty attracting speakers?
Do you have difficulty attracting speakers?
yes
no
Why?Cost of travel, speakers’ feesSpeakers not willing to travel
Lecturers too busy with research workResearch led universities not willing to support school level
educationTakes time to book someone
Lack of availabilityLack of response to invites
What in your opinion makes a good lecture?
What makes a good lecture?
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visu
al s
timul
i
livel
y
rele
vant
to
Ale
vel
know
ledg
eabl
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acce
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oau
dien
ce
bra
nch
es
Do branches have any links at national level?
Have you heard of “New Wave” branches?
Links at national level
yes
no
World Wide Quiz
no reply
Have you heard of New Wave branches?
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
yes no no reply
bran
ches
How important is your branch in the teaching of school age Geography? • 16+ very important =6 important =15 don’t know/unsure unimportant =6• GCSE/KS3 important =5 don’t know/unsure very important =5 unimportant =18• Primary very important/important/don’t
know/unsure =7• unimportant =21
What are the best features or achievements of your branch?
What are the achievements of your branch?
0
2
4
6
8
10
lectures World WideQuiz
keepinggoing
maintainingmembership
fieldtrips
bra
nch
es
What are the main problems/obstacles facing your
branch?
What are the obstacles/problems to running your branch?
time pressures oncommittee
teachers not willing togive up evenings
lack of interest fromstate schools
recruiting new members
Are there any ways you would like to see the branch improve?
• 71% said yes
• More members
• Younger committee
• More university input
• More member participation
• More publicity
• More commitment from younger teachers
Do you think your branch has a strong future?
• 62% said yes Why? commitment of members, new programme, lots
of interest, varied programme, well attended, if free rooms continue, focussed members, reputation
Why not? ageing members, too busy lack of support from
schools, if committee changed branch would fold, no-one willing to take it forward, lack of volunteers, fees
All things considered, would you consider your branch as….
• Vibrant =21%
• Active =58%
• Barely active =4 replies
• Sleeping =0
• No reply to question =2 replies
In conclusion…why?
• Lack of school interest• Teachers don’t need GA branches• Branch will cease soon• Poor attendanceBUT• Social events popular• Develop INSET• Enthusiastic committee/members• Brings Geography to a wider community• Good attendance/activities
Without Geography you are nowhere…..