Geographical Association

The Key Stage 3 Secondary Geography Quality Mark (SGQM) is a framework which has been developed by the Geographical Association to enable subject leaders to raise the standards of geography in school, supporting the teaching of quality geography and promoting department leadership and management.

The overarching strength of the Quality Mark is its capacity to act as an effective 'lever of change' for the development of geography in the schools that take part.

The slideshow below provides an introduction to the SGQM. It is also available as a downloadable PowerPoint Presentation (1.24M) for you to use in school. Click the image to move on to the next slide or use the navigation controls below.

Undertaking the Quality Mark engages all staff in the department in a process of reflection about how well the department is achieving its aims and where its priorities lie. The template is based on the whole school Self-Evaluation Form (SEF), well-honed by Ofsted, thus matching the generic SEF which each head teacher goes through annually in reviewing the school's work.

Nothing could be more relevant to a subject leader's consideration of how to act next, to improve his or her department. The whole team takes part in an ongoing process of curriculum review, identifying priorities for departmental CPD, sharing good practice around a framework for encouraging creative and critical thinking about curriculum making and developing a dynamic, relevant KS3.

'... Within my own department, the SGQM was both a fantastic CPD and self evaluation process. As a team we were able to reflect on and evaluate our current practice ...'

'... It's an audit - a mirror - a learning curve - and, if you can commit to the obvious time of reflection it takes to scrutinise your own department critically with colleagues, then you will come out of it the other end (much) clearer about what the department's areas for development might be, and able to prioritise from the list ...'

The Secondary Geography Quality Mark is awarded at two levels - The Quality Award itself and a higher 'Centre of Excellence Award' recognising the department's contribution to promoting quality geography beyond the school and into the local or regional education community.

All the necessary documentation is available on the Applying for the Award page. The head of department registers for the appropriate cohort of the award scheme with the GA and pays the appropriate fee. They may begin working for the Quality Mark at any time.

The subject leader and department complete a quick self-evaluation using the criteria to establish the level which best describes the quality of geography in their school. The checklist document will assist you with this.

Examples of work submitted for the SGQM

Documentation provides a visual overview of the current situation and helps to identify areas of development. This enables the department to produce an action plan, which may stand alone, or preferably, complement their actions for the subject in the school improvement plan.

Examples and evidence are selected to indicate how the department considers it is meeting the requirements. The department may take up to a year in which to develop the areas for the criteria they still need to meet, whilst of course, still maintaining those other standards they have reached.

Centre of Excellence Status

The first level award is verified on the basis of the written evidence. To achieve 'Centre of Excellence' status, which recognises the department's contribution to quality geography beyond the school and into the local or regional education community, appropriate witness statements will be required. Download a list of possible routes towards Centre of Excellence status.

Certificate and Logo

When an award has been achieved a certificate will be sent from the GA for display, along with a similar one for the subject leader to recognise their work. The school will also recieve an electronic version of the SGQM logo for use on letter headings and websites etc.

The award is valid for three years and resubmission or registration for the next period is necessary after two years.

NB - registration will close when the full quota of schools for the period is filled.

In order to meet some of the costs of administration and moderation it is necessary to make a charge for departments undertaking the award on the following scale:

• Small schools <750 pupils - £200

• Medium schools 750-1200 pupils - £300

• Large schools >1200 pupils - £400

In many cases it should be possible to arrange this funding from the school inset budget, and payment may be made in installements.Here is what one adviser said about the SGQM: 'This is self-run CPD par excellence, for evidence from training evaluations shows that the one-off day, run by no-matter-how-inspiring a speaker, is generally found less effective as CPD than that where teachers themselves are the active participants, engaged in working on a relevant topic'.A department undertaking the process is well placed to argue the quality of the CPD and the impact on the quality of education in the department. Your school must be a member of the Geographical Association.

View SGQM SCHOOLS in a larger map

If you wish to register your interest in the SGQM, fill in your name and email address on the form below and we'll contact you shortly.

Documents to help you plan, prepare and apply for the award, including the registration form, are available on the Applying for the Award page.

Keep an eye on this website and the Geography Teaching Today website for further information about the Quality Mark. If you have any questions, please contact Justin Woolliscroft, SGQM Co-ordinator or Julie Beattie, SGQM Project Assistant.

(Updated 09.02.10)