GA Conference and Exhibition 2025: Full Schedule

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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9:00am BST

What if? A philosophical approach to geography

Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST

Executive suite

This practical session combines the pedagogical power of Philosophy for Children (P4C) with the teaching of geography to explore questions and concepts around 'connected geographies'. We'll show how philosophical enquiry develops oracy and critical thinking, and how it can enhance and enrich the geographical lens that young people require to navigate the complexity of our time.

Speakers

Jackie Zammit

Associate Practitioner, Lifeworlds

As an associate practitioner with Lifeworlds, I work on a projects with children, teachers and at organisation level - delivering workshops, training and putting together resources. At the conference we are partnering with SAPERE to explore the connections between Geography and Philosophy... Read More →

Emma Leeson

Training and Resources Lead, SAPERE

I am a qualified teacher but became a philosophical teacher-educator after encountering philosophical enquiry over 20 years ago, facilitating dialogue ever since in my classrooms, schools, community and at home with my family. I work for SAPERE, the national charity for philosophical... Read More →

Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST
Executive suite Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Cross phase

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4

9:00am BST

Developing space and place: helping young children connect to the world around them

Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST

207

This workshop explores how teachers can use what's familiar to children to help them gain a deeper understanding of the wider world. It will provide a variety of teaching ideas to help children make connections to gain knowledge of 'space' and 'place' between EY and KS2, as well as time to share and develop current practice.

Speakers

Emma Groves

Primary Geography Advisor, Hampshire Inspection and Advisory Service (HIAS)

Thursday April 17, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2

11:00am BST

GIS for Everyone: Developing GIS across the geography curriculum

Thursday April 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am BST

206

This session provides practical strategies for all teachers, including non-specialists, to integrate GIS into geography curriculums from KS1 onwards. Attendees will gain tools to help pupils confidently visualise, interpret, and analyse geospatial data and investigate geographical issues.

Speakers

Graeme Schofield

Geography Subject Lead, Oak National Academy

Geography Subject Lead at Oak National Academy - Since joining Oak in 2023, I have been working collaboratively with the Geographical Association to produce a free, optional and adaptable geography curriculum for teachers to use in their classrooms. Our primary curriculum was published... Read More →

Thursday April 17, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am BST
206 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage KS1, KS2, KS3

11:30am BST

Empowering tomorrow's geographers: bringing links to life

Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST

Foyer

Young people are important citizens, shaped by the geographies around them and with the power to shape those geographies – but do they recognise this? The fieldwork ideas shared here help pupils recognise the connections that exist in our world and draw on cross-curricular links to show how their lives and local area are connected to these wider geographies.

Speakers

Sam Harley

Tutor, Field Studies Council

I am an outdoor environmental education tutor for the Field Studies Council based at Flatford Mill in Suffolk.I teach Geography from primary school age up to A level, I am a trained Geography teacher and have worked at Flatford Mill for 4 years.My specialism is teaching GCSE and A... Read More →

Charlotte Foster

Education Team Leader, Field Studies Council

Thursday April 17, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST
Foyer Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage KS1, KS2

12:30pm BST

Primary meet and greet

Thursday April 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm BST

On 17 April, make your way to the conference social space to meet other primary colleagues. The primary pit stop will be available all day as part of our primary pathway. Hosted by the GA Early Years and Primary Phase Committee.

Session kindly sponsored by Kapow Primary

Thursday April 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:45pm BST

Primary

Key Stage KS1, Early Years, KS2

2:00pm BST

Tails of the unexpected: rich geographical connections

Thursday April 17, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST

207

Join this lively workshop of practical activities that celebrate place perspectives that are surprising, serendipitous, miniature and unusual. Inspired by local landscapes, accompanied by quizzical mice, we seek to foster curiosity through a series of geographical enquiries. This workshop encourages learners to slow down, observe, explore and notice detail, recognising change and finding fascination in places of repair and transformation.

Speakers

Colin Walker

Former Senior Lecturer in Geographical Education

Sharon Witt

Co- director, Attention2place

Exhibitors

GA Early Years and Primary Phase Committee

The Early Years and Primary Phase Committee (EYPPC) seeks to support and promote primary school geography for all teachers and learners. Our committee is chaired by Helen Martin and our Vice Chair is Sharon Witt, who both bring skills and experience to the group. Our members of the... Read More →

Thursday April 17, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Cross phase

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2, KS3

4:20pm BST

Learning through enquiry: possibilities and plans

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST

204

Enquiry approaches in geography lessons engage pupils, but aligning these approaches to curriculum requirements can be a challenge. In this session, we'll share enquiry approaches using examples from a range of schools and phases; participants will have the opportunity to share their own practices and will be provided with frameworks, examples and actions for embedding enquiry in their own schools.

Speakers

Dr Susan Pike

Assistant Professor in Geography Education, Trinity College Dublin

I am a teacher, lecturer and researcher. I teach and support wonderful new teachers taking their Professional Masters in Education in Geography. My research focuses on students’ experiences of learning in Geography and Sustainability Education in schools. I’m looking forward... Read More →

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST
204 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Cross phase

Key Stage KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16

4:20pm BST

Meaning Making in the Primary Geography Curriculum

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST

207

When a curriculum takes on deep meaning for children, knowledge lasts a lifetime. How can we do this within a complex mix of accountability frameworks, changing cohorts and limited time and capacity? Explore creative modes of curriculum development and delivery, and hear about tangible examples that make use of pedagogies that enable interconnection and meaning making for children.

Speakers

Rebecca Leek

Thursday April 17, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Headline lecture

Key Stage KS1, Early Years, KS2