Well, five hundred and one…
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GCSE Geography Pilot Blog of Radical Geography
Ilkeston is in competition from many local shopping areas such as Nottingham and perhaps even the slum known as Derby
, out-of-town centres such as Meadowhall are also attractive to consumers but why?
What problems does Ilson High Street face?
You suggested
The lack of uncover shopping, with the exception of the Albion Centre, where the cover has openings! Not good for all year around shopping.
Lack of accessibility, you suggested for the less mobile the steep incline of Upper Bath Street is difficult to navigate. You also suggested that accessing the High Street via car is difficult. One, due to congestion, the second due to available parking. You also worried about the security of the parking and the charging.
The range of shops available, despite the fact that Ilson has, for a small town, quite a variety of multiple outlets. You also commented on the opening hours, which were limited for people who work shifts.
Crime and safety, low order crimes such as vandalism, make the environment unattractive, whilst perception of crime, makes people feel unsafe whilst shopping.
Environment, some of you suggested that the frontages of buildings looked a little tired, whilst the lack of pedestrianisation on Lower Bath Street didn’t make it a pleasant area to shop. Some of you also mentioned litter.
What does out-of-town shopping offer?
Meadowhall in Sheffield is a classic example of an out-of-town shopping centre. What does it offer?
Access, great accessibility.
12,000 car-parking spaces, train and tram access, 120 buses per hour, 300 coach spaces.
Environment.
Undercover, temperature controlled, pleasant lighting, whilst street furniture, art work and vegetation all enhance the environment. Due to its enclosed nature, it is also safer, security guards patrol and there is CCTV.
The environment is also good for less mobile visitors, with lifts and ramps, and specialist toilet facilities. Mothers are catered for with baby changing facilities, a creche and play area.
Shopping.
223 different shops and longer opening hours.
Leisure.
One thing I didn’t convince you of is that shopping is now a leisure pursuit, retailers are keen to tap into this. Meadowhall offers a leisure shopping experience, it has the largest food court in Europe, a cinema with 11 screens and holds special events to attract in visitor who may also shop.
The question you need to ask yourself is how does Ilson compete? The answer, develop the High Street to model the features of out-of-town shopping.
Ilkeston has been successfully, believe it or not, in maintaining its customer base, others have not, and in some areas this has had serious consequences for the High Street.
So, what makes a good out-of-town shopping site? Coming next…
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Some ideas to consider and reflect on from today. Generally….
People tend to do their ‘main’ shop at one major multiple.
People tend to be shopping less frequently.
People are travelling further for their shopping.
Now one to consider, which came first, the car or the out-of-town supermarket?
Next… the attraction of out-of-town…. ![]()
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Alan who runs the KES Pilot Blog, needs some help from KHCTC Geographers, he is part of a group that considers the direction and content of the Pilot course, the group will be meeting the awarding bodies, the people who decide the structure and content of the upcoming new GCSEs in Geography.
He wants to know
‘What you would say to an awarding body’s specification development team?’
This is your chance to have an impact on what future Geographers might learn and the structure of the GCSE that they study.
Consider what you have done so far on the Pilot, its structure and the way you are taught, what have you enjoyed or been interested in?
Also feel free to offer informed comments about how you would like Geography to develop at this level, what would you include in terms of content? How would you assess it?
If you wish to pass comments onto me at school, please do.
Deadline Thursday.
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I like the quote above by Samuel Beckett, because it reminds me that when I do something that I feel is not good, the next time that I try, I may not achieve what I had intended, but I have made a little step forward…, or something like that!
We went over the mock today, some of you did very well, some of you did alright for the present time, some of you need to work that bit harder.
If you feel fed up, don’t, Year Ten mocks are always about learning the way of the exam, believe me, there are thousands of Year Tens around the country that will feel the same way.
Remember also that you will mature as a Geographer, with time and effort, and that you can learn from your mistakes.
I also think that exams are 50% knowledge, 50% technique, you have the knowledge, so we need to work on the technique.
If you want to review your answers again, you can download my PowerPoint here (5mb) With the exception of Tatler!
Also remember that the ultimate success criterion for this course is the coursework, 67% in total!
A couple of general points to consider that will help you in the future
Also remember that longer answers are levelled, there was a good analogy provided to us at the Pilot meeting, think
Level 1 1-3 marks I want a sandwich, so I make one.
Level 2 4-6 marks I want a sandwich, so I go to the fridge and get out some ham and butter. I go to the cupboard and get out some bread.
Level 3 7-8 marks I want a sandwich, so I go to the cupboard and get out some wholemeal bread, I go to the fridge and take out ham and butter. Using a knife, I butter two slices of the bread, then I place two slices of ham inbetween my two slices of bread. Mmm, I ram it in my mouth! (I added that bit
)
If you have done well, because you worked hard, and it just clicked on the day, don’t feel embarrassed, feel some pride, a nice quote from Marianne Williamson from our ‘Deepest Fear’
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.â€
Anyone want to celebrate or cry?
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RadicalGeography is still active, but I’ve decided to slim it down and go for a thematic layout, it was looking a mess and I want it to reflect the new Key Stage 3 changes and Pilot course. My aim is to upload new resources as I teach or create them. All old links are now dead, apologises in advance for the inconvenience.
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I’ve read a couple of books this holiday, but haven’t been able to put ‘Why Geography Matters’ by Harm J.De Blijby down, a challenging and highly informative read, also highlighted to me how much we neglect Regional Geography, perhaps sometimes we are too focused on the personal, local and national. Environmental determinism, once a dirty concept, perhaps time for a revival?
If you haven’t got the time to read the book, you can listen to the man on his You Tube channel.
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