Jim Bruce

First interviews for the temporary member of Geography staff this morning. I showed them around the school and then sat on the interview panel. The remaining interviews are on Monday, so hopefully we will know who is going to be our new member of staff by the end of term.

Jim Bruce from the HMIe was also in school today carrying out a good practice visit within the department. In particular Jim was looking for good examples of ICT in Geography. He observed two lessons one with Suzanne and one with me. Both of the lessons were with S2 on volcanoes and made some use of ICT, in particular the interactive whiteboard and PowerPoint. We then had a wider chat about the use of ICT in Geography. Jim has been dipping into my blog from time-to-time and I was able to show him some of the things that we have developed over the last year including some digital video, presentations, podcasts and the geocasts project. Hopefully I may have an opportunity to share some of these ideas at the HMIe Social Subjects good practice seminar next summer (2007).

I have met Jim before at a number of SAGT events and he came to my National Priorities: Classroom Solutions Citizenship talk at last year’s annual conference. Jim is very approachable and passionate about what he does. It was great to see him getting involved with the students and helping teach the class.

In the afternoon my new S4 (old S3) class had the first of three end-of-year assessments. They have worked hard over the year and I am expecting some good results. Today was a general paper on the course so far and many of them completed the paper in record time – well done guys!

At the end of the day I met with Paul Raffaelli to have a quick chat about tomorrow. Tomorrow is a PT away day and all of the PT’s and SMT will be out of school. As the main focus of the day is next year’s improvement plan, the motivated school project and Schools of Ambition. I’ve been asked to stay behind to act as duty head as I won’t be in DGS next year. Suzanne will go to the PT away day in my place as she will be assuming the post of acting PT Geography while I am at MGS on my secondment.

Flat viewing tonight – time to get out the hover!