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Welcome to the GA’s online programme for the Annual Conference and Exhibition 2025! Take some time to explore the programme and build a personalised schedule using the full list below, or find the best sessions for you using the filter options. Keep an eye on this programme for updates and to interact with other delegates, exhibitors and sponsors. For more information on the Conference, see the GA website.

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Thursday, April 17
 

9:00am PDT

Making connections through co-planning conversations
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
206
Co-planning is an approach to mentoring that encourages teachers to develop lessons collaboratively, benefitting both mentors and mentees. This workshop will provide everyone who engages in mentoring conversations – mentors, ITE tutors, ECTs and trainees – with ideas to support co-planning conversations. Participants will take away useful strategies that they can put into practice.
Speakers
JM

Julia Mackintosh

Senior Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire
DE

Dr Emma Rawlings Smith

Chair GA Teacher Education Phase Committee
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
206 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

9:00am PDT

Sustainability Support for Education
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
The DfE has commissioned three flagship initiatives supporting education settings to become more sustainable and confront the climate and nature emergencies: the Sustainability Support for Education hub; Climate Ambassadors; and the National Education Nature Park. Find out about what free resources are available and how your whole education community can get involved.
Speakers
avatar for Juanita Shepherd

Juanita Shepherd

Policy Lead, Sustainability Support Programme, Department for Education
Juanita is a former geography teacher and now a Policy Lead at the Department for Education on the Sustainability Support Programme. Ask her about the support available to education settings (EY-FE) to take their first steps or reach their highest ambitions on their sustainability... Read More →
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
JHB lecture theatre Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

9:00am PDT

A relational approach to geography teaching
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
203
Approaches to the teaching of geography are predominantly based on a logic of separation that views phenomena as objects to be studied and classified, rather than on the understanding that all beings in the world, human and non-human, are interconnected and interdependent. A logic of separation also separates the overall purpose of the discipline from its past. In this session I argue for the inclusion of a relational approach that locates the subject in the context of its establishment as an academic discipline in the 19th century, and I consider the implications for our practices in the context of the potential of geography education to foster the sustainability of all life on the planet.
Speakers
DF

Dr Fran Martin

Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter
Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am PDT
203 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
  Secondary

10:00am PDT

Nairobi National Park – A case study of connected geographies
Thursday April 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am PDT
This session explores the dynamic interplay between urban development and natural ecosystems. It examines how Nairobi National Park, uniquely situated adjacent to a major city, embodies the challenges and opportunities of balancing wildlife conservation with urban expansion. The presentation will highlight key aspects such as: human-wildlife interactions; ecological corridors; conservation strategies; and the socio-economic impact on surrounding communities, offering insight into sustainable coexistence.
Speakers
avatar for Paras Chandaria

Paras Chandaria

Wildlife Photographer / Safari Planner, WOW Safaris Ltd
I am a passionate advocate for wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism, with a particular focus on the delicate balance between urban development and natural ecosystems. My work centers on highlighting the unique role of Nairobi National Park as a vital conservation area situated... Read More →
Thursday April 17, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am PDT
JHB lecture theatre Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

11:00am PDT

50 years of Teaching Geography
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am PDT
2025 marks the 50th anniversary of our Teaching Geography journal. Join us in the morning break of 17 April to celebrate this milestone with us and find out about how you can get involved with our journals.



Speakers
avatar for Dr Richard Bustin

Dr Richard Bustin

Head of Geography, Lancing College
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:30am PDT

11:30am PDT

Meeting in the middle: walk to collaborative futures for teachers and researchers 
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
201
Attendees will hear brief summaries of geography education research from presenters who'll connect it to day-to-day classroom and curriculum development. We'll then host a 'world café' session to encourage discussions, which will continue over drinks and snacks afterwards. Our session will suit teachers who want to learn from research.
Speakers
DX

Dr Xin Miao

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, East China Normal University; University of Stirling
DA

David Alcock

Author, Oxford University Press
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
201 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

11:30am PDT

How can understanding early years benefit geography educators?
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
207
This workshop will explore connections between early years geography and wider geography education. Key pedagogy and practice from early years education will be highlighted, and participants will be guided to explore connections with their own practice. This will provide an opportunity to reflect on individual and collective roles and raise awareness of subject development, starting from our youngest learners.
Speakers
SS

Sarah Sprake

Early Years adviser, Norfolk County Council
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
  Primary

11:30am PDT

Collaborative planning for climate action in your school with the Climate Ambassadors scheme
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
In 2022, the DfE mandated that all schools in England have a Climate Action Plan focusing on decarbonisation, adaptation, climate education and biodiversity. Join regional hub managers from the DfE-funded Climate Ambassadors scheme for a collaborative workshop to find out how the scheme can help you, as well as generating ideas that will empower you to support your school in taking meaningful climate action.
Speakers
KM

Kit Marie Rackley

Climate Ambassadors East of England Regional Hub Manager, and consultant to the GA., University of East Anglia
DE

Dr Elle Young

North East Regional Hub Manager, Climate Ambassadors
ZG

Zoe Gilbank

Yorkshire & Humber Regional Hub Manager, Climate Ambassadors
Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm PDT
Executive suite Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

12:30pm PDT

Connecting with colleagues: using geography to develop cross-curricular opportunities
Thursday April 17, 2025 12:30pm - 12:55pm PDT
202
This session will outline some of the ways in which collaboration with colleagues, using geography as a starting point, can help foster professional relationships and develop greater opportunities for cross-curricular teaching and learning, enabling teachers as well as students to appreciate how relevant geography is across all subjects.
Speakers
MC

Melanie Collins

Head of Geography, Pipers Corner School
Thursday April 17, 2025 12:30pm - 12:55pm PDT
202 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

3:30pm PDT

Curriculum debates
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
203
A jointly hosted GA/IOE debate on a pertinent curriculum question, which will be determined closer to the conference.
Speakers
DA

Dr Alex Standish

Associate Professor of Geography Education, UCL Institute of Education
SB

Steve Brace

Chief Executive, The Geographical Association
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
203 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

3:30pm PDT

You don't know what you got 'til it's gone' – Joni Mitchell
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
207
The destruction of the tree at Sycamore Gap sparked outpourings of grief for these often underappreciated 'sentinels of time'. We'll explore the significance of trees in our lives spiritually, emotionally and physically. Engaging with a series of activities available in Primary Geography, you'll discover how a 'tree curriculum' can offer children hopeful and positive understandings of their world.
Speakers
SR

Stephen Rawlinson

Independent Consultant - Former President of the GA (2015-16), Wildthinkers
DT

Dr Tessa Willy

Chair of the Primary Geography Editorial Board
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

3:30pm PDT

Homelessness policy and practice: the geographical connection
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
We know a lot about what works to end homelessness, and yet it remains a major global injustice. This presentation will draw upon two decades of geographical research and ongoing efforts to influence homelessness policy and practice across the globe, including through collaboration with NGOs, national and local governments and even royalty.
Speakers
PM

Peter Mackie

Director of Impact and Engagement, School of Geography, Cardiff University
Thursday April 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm PDT
JHB lecture theatre Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

4:20pm PDT

Connecting cartography
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
This workshop explores the local, regional and international surroundings of Oxford Brookes, where I studied cartography in 2001. We'll examine what's visible and hidden at these levels, and consider creating our own maps. This all-school workshop, from EY to Post-16, connects map-making to other subjects like science, graphic design and geography.
Speakers
avatar for Alice Gadney

Alice Gadney

Cartographer/ Director, Mini Map-Makers Global CIC
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
Executive suite Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

4:20pm PDT

Connecting farming with geography teaching
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
203
Opportunities exist to gain insight into how farmers are tackling global issues such as carbon emissions, water quality, sustainability and food security. Farmers' decisions are influenced by their physical and changing human environment; the aim is to create a relevant farm visit with active learning experiences to gather environmental data while developing place connections and understanding the farmed landscape.
Speakers
DA

Dr Alison Brown

Farmer (former geography teacher and researcher)
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
203 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
  Fieldwork

4:20pm PDT

Planning for progression in fieldwork 5–19
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
202
The launch of the GA's fieldwork progression framework, a collaboration between FOLSIG and AESIG, will support teachers in thinking through the interlinked process of curriculum planning, progression and assessment of fieldwork. It explores the role of fieldwork in supporting students' first-hand investigations of places, making sense of the connections between people, places and environments.
Speakers
CS

Chloe Searl

Independent Field Studies Tutor, The Island Geographer
DG

David Gardner

Education consultant, Geographical Association
Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm PDT
202 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP
  Fieldwork