Mr Paul Baker CGeog

Biography

Memo: Explore 2010 biog Paul is a Fellow of the RGS and he retired from teaching in 2008. During his 38 years teaching he lead students on many expeditions in UK, Europe , Africa, Asia and South America. He founded Dragon Exploration in 1992 and he was well know for leading expeditions for young students in the 1990's to Borneo rainforests (Brunei and Sabah), Kenya, Brazil, India and Morocco. His most recent expedition was in July 2010 when he lead the Sabah Youth Conservation Expedition with teenagers from UK and from Sabah. From this expedition a series of educational resources and recordings are being produced. He is leading another Sabah Youth Conservation Expedition in 2011. Paul is trustee for a gap year fund which helps students working in countries overseas as part of their gap year. He is secretary of the Rainforest Club and Chair of the ISSIG of the Geographical Association. August 2011 biog Paul Baker, MA, BSc, FRGS, RGS Chartered Geographer, Geography GA Consultant, Chair of Independent School Special Interest Group of GA, Local GA Cluster Group Co-ordinator, Member of GA Education Committee,Oxfordshire GA Primary Champion and Oxford GA Branch officer, University of Buckingham PGCE tutor, Mentor for Geography NQT's. Paul taught for 38 years up to his retirement from the classroom in 2008. He now works part time as a Chartered Geographer and a Geography Consultant . His teaching career covered teaching Geography from KS1 to Post 16 and therefore he has a wide knowledge of geography education in schools. He has also for the past 30 years lead Geography and Exploration expeditions abroad and his most recent expedition saw him in the Borneo Rainforest with UK and Malay Students looking at the problems of Oil Palm production to Rainforest Ecosystems. He is author of a number of text books and geographical works. Dec 2011 biog BAKER, Paul Paul was Geography teacher for 38 years in a variety of Schools before retiring in 2008 from teaching. His geography teaching was from KS 2 through to A Level and he was Head of Geography Departments in 3 Schools. He has been Chair of the Independent School's Special Interest Group of the Geographical Association for the past 11 years and is in this post until 2013. He is a member of the GA Educational Committee and he runs Geography Cluster Groups for the GA promoting good geography and keeping teachers involved in improving their teaching and resources through a series of these CPD events. He is a well know explorer having taken hundreds of pupils overseas as well as in the UK during the last 30 years. Expeditions to Wales, Scotland, Borneo, Brazil, Kenya, Morocco, France and India are some of the destinations and his believe in improving geographical awareness through expeditions and fieldwork has allowed many pupils to be inspired to discover geography and continue their studies at university. Paul now also works as a PGCE tutor for the University of Buckingham, a Mentor for NQT's, and as a Consultant Geographer. His work for the GA Oxford Branch in Oxford and in organising Cluster Groups has allowed him to help both teachers and pupils hear from experienced Geographers so allowing them to improve their knowledge, skills and understanding. He regularly attends Monday night lectures at the RGS and still has time for a weekly round of golf. Paul Baker MA, BSc (Econ) FRGS. Having been a Head of a Geography Department for 27 years, Paul retired from this role in September 2005 but continues to teach Geography at the Dragon School where he is also director of Activities and Educational Visits Coordinator. Paul is IAPS Co-ordinator for Geography, Chairman of the Independent Schools Geography Setters and Chairman of the Independent Schools Working Group of the Geographical Association. He is researching issues of Geography Fieldwork and Safety issues related to School trips and also involved with a variety of Committees relating to both Geography education and Expeditions. Paul Baker MA BSc FRGS Paul retired from teaching after 38 years in July2008. The last 18 years of this at the Dragon School, Oxford where he founded Dragon Exploration which was renowned for taking children aged 11 to 13 on expeditions to the Brunei Rainforest, Sabah, Canada, Kenya, Morocco, Brazil and India and locations in the UK. His aim being to give the groups a passion to investigate environments outside their comfort zone, safely and with an educational aim. Many of the children he took have since travelled as gap year or university students on many expeditions. Paul is a Trustee for a gap year fund which helps students who are working in countries overseas as part of their gap year.Paul is now working as a Consultant for Geography and Fieldwork. He is still fully involved in leading expeditions with trips to Syria, Jordan, Morocco, Borneo, France and India all plannedover the next 18 months. He is a Chartered Geographer and a Fellow of the RGS and has been commissioned to write a book on taking young explorers overseas. He is also involved in promoting geography and sustainability and providing educational resources in Schools as part of the Geography Action Plan.