Geographical Association Consultants Register

Working for the GA: some background

The GA has a permanently staffed office, led by the Chief Executive which supports a membership of around 5,500 teachers and lecturers. The office is based in Sheffield and covers three major areas of activity:membership services and administration; business organisation and development; and publications and communications.The professional staff of the GA includes teachers and trainers who lead a programme of CPD workshops and funded project work.

The Register

The Consultants register provides new opportunities for GA Members to contribute to the GA’s core charitable object of furthering geographical knowledge and understanding through education – according to their particular strengths and personal circumstances. Consultants enable the GA to respond in an agile and professional manner to requests from schools, TV companies, publishers, government departments and such like for specialist advice and/or material on geography teaching. Consultants may also contribute to the GA CPD programme providing advice to schools and the assessment and evaluation of GA Quality Mark applications for which the GA will provide training, instruction and a fee.

How the Register works

Where the request is for voluntary support from local organisations, schools and colleges asking for free advice and support from the GA via or other. The GA Administrator forwards the request and enquirers contact details to all or specificconsultants (also GA SIG’s & Branches contacts); leaving it up to them to make contact with the enquirer should they be interested in the project. The GA Administrator requests notice of any confirmed work outcomes and makes a note.
Where the request for geography input is less than a half day which involves consultants responding to requests from organisations e.g. editors, reviewers for paid assignments. The Administrator forwards requests and contact details to all/or specific consultants leaving it up to them to make contact with each other should they be interested in the project. In such instances any payment negotiation would then be between the school/company and the individual Consultant(s). Travel expenses also to be paid by relevant organisation. No GA commission is involved. The GA Administrator requests notice of any confirmed work outcomes and makes a note.
Where the request is for bespoke CPD work or funded project work, generally over one or more days and when requests usually come from national organisations/schools & colleges. The Administrator will work with the GA Marketing & Events Manager to explore the register for a suitable consultant. Once matched, the suitable consultant and recipient are put in touch with each other making clear how payments are administrated to both parties i.e. invoicing. Fees would usually be negotiated on a one-off basis for work undertaken that broadly reflects the agreed number of geography days input required on any project. The Marketing & Events Manager has overall responsibility for agreeing fees. The Administrator requests notification of work confirmed and completed to ensure invoicing arises. A GA commission fee applies.

Who is a Consultant to the GA?

A Consultant to the GA is approved and registered to carry out work on the GA’s behalf.

Consultants provide a range of services depending on their expertise. This will include offering advice, guidance and specialist geographical support, including resource development, support with curriculum planning, knowledge and skills progression for schools and other organisations, and supporting schools in making judgements and implementing interventions that lead to changes in practice. This may also involve moderation duties for the GA Quality Mark’s.

Many are teachers, some are advisors and inspectors, and some are trainers. All have recent and relevant experience of consultancy work in schools, classrooms and in geography including involvement with the GA. We would expect prospective consultants to have some appropriate expertise and show evidence of appropriate examples of previous consultancy work which must be referred to in the application supporting statement.

Registration needs to be confirmed annually and the register is reviewed every three years. The person is, all things being equal, ‘available’ to undertakecurriculum development or advisory work, both voluntary, small and large scale.To be registered as a Consultant to the GA is definitely a good thing for your CV.

How do I become a Consultant to the GA?

You or your organisation/employer need to be a member of the GA

You need to be confident that you can fulfil these criteria:

-you are a qualified teacher with a proven track record of success

-you have previous engagement with the GA (e.g. Special Interest Group/GA Branch or GA Conference involvement)

-you can communicate effectively, succinctly and accurately

-you share a clear vision of the educational potential of geography for your phase of education

-you support the GA’s aims and its ethical and environmental policies

Delegates complete an application form which is submitted to the GA Administrator.

References are requested and followed up.

Applications are vetted by an Advisory Panel consisting of GA President, Chief Executive and Chair of the Education Group. Consultants are chosen by their ability to fulfil the consultants’ criteria. Unsuccessful applicants are provided with a feedback letter from the GA Chief Exec. Successful applicants’ names are subsequently noted by the GA Curriculum Group and are notified and given opportunity to receive email notifications, website entry and are able to request GA materials for events/workshops etc.

Of course, being accepted as Consultant unfortunately does not guarantee you work. So long as you renew/refresh your name on the list annually and maintain GA membership you stand a good chance and you are free to use the term, or accolade, on your CV.

How to apply

Complete and return thisapplication form via email or post to:Julie Beattie at The Geographical Association, 160 Solly Street, Sheffield, S1 4BF

Application Form

Consultant to the GA

GA Membership Number:

Name:

Postal address:

Postcode: Telephone:

E-mail address:

Current employment/circumstances:

Name and contact details of a referee (someone who knows your work):

Record of previous employment/experience in education:

Education and qualifications:

Dates / Course / Institution

Main interest areas in geographical education:

Personal statement (no more than 250 words):

Guidance completing this section:You must tell us about your previous engagement with the GA (e.g. Special Interest Group/GA Branch or GA Conference involvement), previous consultancy experience and about your areas of expertise.

I would like to apply to become a Consultant to the GA because:

Signed......