On Wednesday 9 December, Year 13 Geographers visited St Helen and St Katharine School, Abingdon, to enjoy a lecture about Human Geography and Inequality. The topics covered have formed a large part of research and coursework for the Sixth Formers, who were keen to extend the introduction to the subjects, as the exam period approaches.
The lecture, which was attended by A Level pupils from local schools, was given by Professor Danny Dorling. Danny currently lectures at the University of Oxford, in the School of Geography and the Environment of the University of Oxford. He is also a Visiting Professor in the Department of Sociology of Goldsmiths, University of London, a Visiting Professor in the School of Social and Community Medicine of the University of Bristol, a Visiting Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research and a Member of the National Advisory Panel for the Centre for Labour and Social Studies. This impressive resume saw him highly recommended as a lecturer for the subject!
Using big data, maps and statistics, Danny, renowned author of The Population of the UK; Unequal Health and The No-Nonsense Guide to Equality, explained concepts of human geography, poverty and wealth and contemporary Britain. The Geography Department arranged the trip to give pupils access to university style lectures and events, in order to raise the profile of the subject as well as enhance their learning. The event also helped to give Sixth Form pupils, currently choosing universities and subjects, the chance to experience the study of Geography at university level, with a prestigious lecturer in the subject.
Mr Ross Johnston said of the event that ‘the pupils were really well-behaved; enthusiasm for the subject was clear and Danny’s passion was infectious. Hopefully, it’ll be an insight into what the subject could offer if Sixth Formers choose to pursue the subject at degree level.’
