16th May 2019
Bowdon Prep takes Gold Award for outstanding geography work!
Only 10 schools in England were given the Gold Award Primary Geography Quality Mark (PGQM) by the Geographical Association this academic year, and Bowdon Preparatory School (BPS) was one of them! The prestigious award is a result of the high quality of teaching and learning in geography at BPS. The award is given to schools that, in the words of the organisers, “ensure that their planning, policies and practice maximise pupil learning and are not afraid to take risks, innovate and challenge to achieve progress in geography.”
BPS’ specialist geography teacher Mrs Waters (pictured below) explained, “we actually entered the silver award category, but the Geographical Association felt our entry was so good that they awarded us gold! The award is testament not only to high standards of teaching and learning across the school, but also to our girls’ enthusiasm, exceptional independent study and research skills, and creativity; I’m very proud of them”.
Craig Henderson, Learning and Adventure Manager at the Outward Bound Trust in the Lake District (where the school’s Y6 residential takes place) commented “their social and emotional level is the highest I’ve ever encountered in Year 6 pupils in my 15 years of teaching.” Wow girls!
The awards were presented at a ceremony as part of the Geographical Association Annual Conference 2019 which took place at Manchester University on 9th April 2019. Mrs Waters is pictured below with other winners.
BPS are not resting on their laurels now that they’ve won the award either. Pupils build on the high standards set and continue to thrive and develop. Project work is an important element across the Juniors, encouraging girls to develop the independent study skills that will carry them confidently forward into secondary education. One such example is Harriet in Y6. She decided to create a video documentary about tourism in the Lake District, despite the project brief asking for a book, poster or Powerpoint presentation. You can view her impressive video here. Harriet also shared her thoughts and top tips with Y5 pupils – Rosie and Harriet – as they prepare for their own project work on the Lake District next year.
Harriet has enjoyed over 50 trips to the Lake District with her family, and is pictured here with her mother (BPS Governor) and Mrs Waters.
A further selection of current Geography work from pupils is pictured below:
Plants of the Lake District by Flora Gilbert
Tourism in the Lake District by Ella Youngs
Mountains and Glaciation! By Phoebe Donaghey
Mountains and Glaciation by Ella Commarmond