Who teaches Geography?

The Geography Department consists of two members of staff, Mr N Meek and Mr L Jones, who teach across the age range: 

 Mr Nick Meek – Head of Department (Below: Trekking in Southern Iceland, August 2009)

I have been Head of Geography for five years and have enjoyed every minute.  The first thing that struck me about HMSG was the enthusiasm and energy of the girls.  I am extremely passionate about the world and literally ‘live, eat and breathe’ Geography.  I studied Geography at Leicester University to Masters Level and later gained my PGCE from University of Wales Swansea.  In a previous life I have worked for the Geography Department at Leicester University and for ADAS in Aberystwyth.  I gained a Masters in Education at the University of Birmingham in 2006.

My love of Geography is due to the fact we live on such an amazing planet.  With its varied landscapes, ecosystems and cultures, you can’t fail to be impressed by the variety and beauty.  To be a great Geographer I say you need to be ‘nosey’, always asking questions and thinking about your surroundings.  I am very much an all-round Geographer, although I particularly enjoy teaching about the environment, natural hazards and chocolate geography!  I am actively involved in the school’s Eco-School Project and have just taken up an allotment, so will be doing my bit for reducing food miles and my carbon footprint.

Mr Lee Jones

Teaching Geography has always been something that I have thoroughly enjoyed because it allows creativity to shine and is enhanced completely when students study beyond the classroom.  This approach was founded in my school days by incredibly passionate teachers who really brought the subject to life.  As a proud Salopian, I remember crossing the River Severn in Shrewsbury up to my waist in water via the old Roman ford.  ‘Learning by doing’ became very important to me as a teacher, whether canoeing down the River Wye or skiing down the Pic Blanc Glacier in France or leading a variety of trips.  Geography is all around us everywhere we look.

As a student at the University of Reading, I developed a real interest in Human Geography and studied in great detail how cities evolve and change economically and socially.  This combined with my PGCE at Swansea University where I enjoyed many expeditions onto the Gower Peninsula, cemented my fascination of the physical world.  Geography is a great subject because it combines the Arts and Sciences, spanning all timeframes from far into the past, into the present and the future.  As a diverse subject I really enjoy teaching globalisation and geopolitics in the shape of superpower issues but at the same time love teaching about natural hazards and the risk they pose to humans.  Geography as a subject is incredibly varied and wide-ranging and can be whatever you want it to be.  It isn’t just drawing maps or ‘colouring in’ but instead is a way of seeing the world, wanting to understand both the physical and human worlds and recognise the interconnections and interactions between them.  Geography is always in the news and gives you a good understanding of the world and how it works.

In my spare time I am a very keen sportsman, triathlete and cyclist (often seen with my dogs in tow!).  I am an experienced, flexible teacher who enjoys preparing lessons where students are challenged to become independent thinkers.  Seeing students of all ages achieving success is a great motivation.