Teacher Training and CPD

It is so important that teachers are supported in their vital work of preparing the next generation for the changes that are happening in climate, biodiversity, society and the economy. The OEA team are supporting a range of teacher CPD, through the Oxford Education Deanery, and the Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance, and for initial teacher training at Oxfordshire Teacher Training and the Oxford University Department of Education.

If you are interested in some CPD for your school or colleagues, and can’t find what you need through the Oxford Education Deanery or OTSA, please get in touch with us: kim@oxfordearthacademy.org.

English literature

Phoebe Mortimer and Megan Murray-Pepper are English teachers who have developed an expertise in integrating sustainability into the secondary school English Literature curriculum. Megan has written the UCL Centre for Climate Change Education resources for English teaching. Together they have delivered training to the PGSE Group at the Oxford University Department of Education.

Nature and ecology Education & Greening school grounds

We are really keen to help teachers use their own school grounds for biology fieldwork, nature education and wellbeing. Whatever space you have is likely to have enough wildlife in it to do some meaningful studies. Recognising the potential of your own spaces can safe teacher time and travel costs associated with school trips, and still get the students outside which is fantastic for their wellbeing and behaviour management.

Kim Polgreen runs nature education sessions for teacher training in schools, online, at Wytham Woods, and at the Oxford University Department of Education. We train people in how to introduce teens to nature, how to use identification resources and smartphone apps, how to find invertebrates to look at, including using moth traps and pitfall traps, and how to manage safety and behaviour outdoors. We are also helping local schools to increase the value of their grounds for wildlife, working with teachers, estates staff, and students.

"Thank you Kim, this was a very valuable experience. I could ask you questions for days. I love all of the ideas and knowledge you have shared, and I am excited to try and incorporate more outdoor learning to the students I teach. I would love to inspire our younger henerations to interact, appreciate, and understand and benefit from nature." Sally.

"Kim was so useful and knowledgeable. The session really helped me gain confidence in leading sessions with young people, even if I don't know all the answers. Kim gave us helpful tools to engage pupils like tree bingo and using the Seek app. My only improvement would be to make it longer so we had more time to learn and gain experience." Jo.

Geography

Working with the Oxford University Department of Education we have developed and delivered a full day teacher training workshop for their Geography PGCE interns. The workshop connects with many elements of the GCSE and A-level curricula, both human and physical, and upskills trainee teachers with the relevant knowledge and practical skills for for carbon cycle and water cycle fieldwork. We also look at behaviour management, risk assessment, safety and wellbeing. And we consider NEA coursework options, and EPQ opportunities.

Kim,

On behalf of Maisie, Natalie and myself, thank you very much for your time today looking at fieldwork possibilities through hands-on stuff at Wytham. Good to catch up - and thanks for the opportunities to get out of the rain.

Simon (Oxfordshire Teacher Training)