Being asked what you do, or what it is that you did, is never straightforward. The enquirer usually seeks a simple label, but what do you know of their preconceptions? Teacher, it is. Everyone went to school so, like it or not, everyone has an opinion. To explain a four-stage work trajectory is more than they really asked. And being a geography teacher has been the root of all I have done. I have actually enjoyed education.
I went to South Benfleet County Primary School in Essex. My Mother went to the same school and was there as an Infant teacher. For a year I was in her class!
Secondary School
Sept 1966 – July 1973 Friends School, Saffron Walden, Essex
I did alright with O’ Levels but not so well at A’ Levels. Being in a boarding school was, in my view, a positve social and broader educational experience. Many of us remain life-long friends and we have a website hosted alongside this one www.pannage.com/fssw73 [opens new tab].
From Aug 1973 – Aug 1974 I worked at an NGO in New York City on what is now called a Gap Year. The exchange of letters with my Mother has been self-published under the title “Atlantic Airmail”, details here: www.pannage.com/geo-story/atlantic-airmail/ [opens new tab]
Higher Education
Sept 1974 – June 1978 Edge Hill College of Higher Education, Ormskirk, Lancashire
1977 Certificate in Education Geography and Education with credit
1978 Bachelor of Education (Honours) University of Lancaster, Class II Div. ii Geography and Education
I enjoyed my time in what is now Edge Hill University. It set the course of a life together with Margaret Prince. Teaching jobs were scarce and we unwittingly headed to Deal in Kent. The story continues with a few details here on Teaching >
Meanwhile, see pages on
Edge Hill College of Higher Education
Geography at Edge Hill
Students’ Union
Summer Vacation Fieldwork Assignment
and a post about
Indoctrination – on one part of the education course
In-service post-graduate qualifications:
Sept 1986 – July 1987 Canterbury Christ Church College Certificate in Computer Education with Distinction
Feb 1992 – Oct 1994 Open University Advanced Diploma in Educational Management
Feb 1995 – Oct 1996 Open University Master of Arts in Education (Management) Read more…
Oct 2003 – April 2004 National Extension College Online Tutoring Certificate City and Guilds
My interest in early computers was used in my geography teaching but, ultimately, diverted my life into curriculum and professional development. I made sure the MA studies were interesting and worthwhile. Much of it was about adult and life-long learning and I still regard myself as a learner. It wasn’t so much the elements on school management that deterred me going in that direction. It was the changes taking place in schools, and subsequently local authorities, that made me a school-leadership sceptic.