History of Sedbergh School in 50 Objects 34: Geology Classroom
As is often discussed, ‘the hills that have stood around us’ play an enormous role in shaping the experience of Sedberghians. Our pupils understanding, both of our own inspirational landscape and that of landscapes around the world is augmented by the incredible geology collection amassed by former geology teacher Jim Fisher.
Jim arrived at Sedbergh in 1985 to join the geography department. His main area of teaching was physical geography and in the mid 1990’s he campaigned the headmaster to start offering GCSE geology as a stand-alone subject. The success of the subject was such that geology was quickly established as a stand alone department in its own right and offered as an A Level subject. Jim inherited what he described as ‘a rather dull geography room’ as his classroom. Jim picks up the story of how he created the incredible geology classroom the School has today:
‘I set about decorating the room with polystyrene models and wallpaper murals. Many a health and safety rule was breached trying to get that stuff on to the walls and ceiling! Eventually filling the room with all things geological acquired on every expedition and trip I did for many years. There are hundreds of stories, attached to my passions to equip that room with everything pertinent to teaching the subject. My wife commented that most of our holidays for decades focussed on acquiring a particular photo or geological sample for the room. I recruited the aeroplane luggage space of many a pupil to carry specimens from afar (100 countries and counting). Some small collections were also given to me and incorporated into the mass, and one of the largest specimens came from a Norwegian mine, transported back in the vacant space when we had to remove some bus seats for a school cross country skiing trip. I bought some specimins, piece by piece year on year whenever I saw something I didn’t have or couldn’t find for myself. The polished slabs on the tables were offcuts I acquired from stone masons. Very soon after starting the collection I had the glass display cases outside the room built by School. When I left 7 years ago there were 50 plus pupils doing Geology. One year it surpassed maths as the most popular A level.’
The success of the department was apparent both in the consistently high A level results achieved by pupils, and by the high percentage of geology pupils who chose to continue the subject at University, and later as a career. Jim’s former pupils include a Fulbright Scholar, and geologists now working in carbon capture, academia, climate change science and geological mapping.
Jim’s diligence and determination to amass such a prolific collection for the School has left a legacy that will benefit pupils for generations to come. The geology department is now led by Dr Ellen McGowan who continues to excite and enthuse young people about the subject, leading day trips and longer expeditions in addition to classroom based work.
