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.

2:30pm BST

Connecting to the geography of a single grid square

Tuesday April 15, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm BST

Foyer

Drawing inspiration from Local by Alastair Humphreys, and with an emphasis on divisions of space and place, this field visit will show a range of techniques teachers can use to explore any single grid square close to their school. There will be two concurrent strands to the field visit, with separate activities highlighted for primary and secondary students.

Speakers

Chloe Searl

Independent Field Studies Tutor, The Island Geographer

Ryan Nock

Head Of Geography, Carr Manor Community School (Parkside School)

Dr Paula Richardson

Exhibitors

GA Fieldwork and Outdoor Learning Special Interest Group

We are a friendly, productive and dynamic group focusing on enabling teachers to deliver high quality fieldwork at all levels, from primary to secondary education.FOLSIG meets three time a year both face-to-face and online, to talk all things fieldwork and support the strategic aims... Read More →

Tuesday April 15, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm BST
Foyer Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Fieldwork

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

3:00pm BST

Fieldwork connections: the role of games and challenges in fieldwork for young people FILLING

Tuesday April 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm BST

Oxford Centre

The role of fun and games are often overlooked in field trips, but they're powerful tools in connecting students to their environment and exploring the process of scientific enquiry. This session looks to spend time in an urban centre and examine how such activities can enthuse students and enhance their understanding of fieldwork, in preparation for more formal assessment of these skills.

This session begins at Oxford Centre, please make your way to the What Three Words Venue https://what3words.com/rate.unfair.curvy (at the bottom of Corn Market Street). I have booklets that I will be holding up that have a big GA logo on the front, and I will make sure I have my blue beanie on (in my photo) and that I look like a Geographer! i.e. stylish, with a coffee.

Speakers

Ollie Davies

Teacher, Ardingly College

Ollie studied undergraduate Geography at University College, London, and at postgraduate level at the University of Oxford, where he gained an MSc in Environmental Geomorphology. He entered the teaching profession through TeachFirst and taught at Loxford School in East London before... Read More →

Exhibitors

GA Independent Schools Special Interest Group

Our members are geography teachers, both active and retired, from a range of independent day, boarding, single sex and co-educational senior and junior schools. We collaborate to share best practice in teaching and learning, for instance, embedding diversity and inclusion in the curriculum... Read More →

Tuesday April 15, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm BST
Oxford Centre Oxford Station, Park End St, Oxford OX1 1HS

Fieldwork

Key Stage KS2, KS3

9:00am BST

Taking the learning outside: connecting geography and wellbeing FILLING

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST

207

This workshop will adopt a holistic approach in exploring the connections between outdoor learning and children's well-being. Moving beyond standard enquiry-led fieldwork approaches, we'll consider which types of learning activities are most enhanced by 'taking the learning outside', and discuss practical and creative strategies for incorporating outdoor learning across the primary geography curriculum.

Speakers

Julia Tanner

Consultant, trainer, author, Julia Tanner Consultancy

Philip D Maudsley

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2

9:00am BST

Satellite data to support learning

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST

203

It's easier than ever before to obtain free satellite data for use in your classroom, promoting discussion among younger pupils and analysis from older students. This workshop will introduce a range of sources and support you in using them to explore the possibilities they provide.
Please bring a tablet or, better still, a laptop so you can explore the full capabilities of some of the sites during the session.

Speakers

Catherine Fitzsimons

Outreach officer, National Centre for Earth Observation

Rose Meadows

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST
203 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Secondary

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16

9:00am BST

Make sure you're connected: how can we connect GIS with the National Curriculum?

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST

Chakrabarti room

Following recent concerns about a lack of GIS in the curriculum (e.g. Ofsted 2023), this session will offer suggestions on connecting GIS and other geospatial learning to its rightful place in the curriculum based on many years of ongoing classroom practice. The session will consider curriculum sequencing, progression and endpoints for school-based GIS.

Speakers

Brendan Conway

Teacher of Geography, Notre Dame Senior School

I have over thirty years’ experience as geography teacher, head of department and pastoral lead in three maintained schools and one independent school. I led my current department to become a Geographical Association Centre of Excellence. I'm an RGS Chartered Geographer (Teacher).I... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 9:00am - 9:50am BST
Chakrabarti room Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Subject knowledge

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, Early Career Teacher

11:30am BST

Living cities: connecting young people to nature in their home town

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST

201

Nature has always been crucial for thriving cities, but our relationship with it has changed as we've urbanised. We need to re-connect to nature for sustainable futures. Living cities, a module of UCL-IOE's free Teaching for sustainable futures CPD programme, explores how geography and history teaching can help do this.

Speakers

David Mitchell

Associate Professor, UCL-IOE

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST
201 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Cross phase

Key Stage KS2, KS3

11:30am BST

Elemental geographical thinking and learning with a dynamic world

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST

207

The four elements – water, air, fire and earth – are materials and energies that comprise and connect the world around us and shape physical and human interactions between places and peoples. This workshop explores how geography is elemental, how elements connect life in literal and lyrical ways and embeds a fifth element – imagination – to activate rich geographical curriculum thinking.

Speakers

Dr Helen Clarke

Independent Scholar / Consultant, Attention2Place

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 →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2

11:30am BST

Powerful resources: cross-curricular climate change strategies, initiatives and resources

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST

205

This session will look at strategies exploring 'powerful resources', i.e. artefacts, images and resources that are resonant and meaningful, working across curriculum areas to not only create dialogue across departments but demonstrate to students that climate change and sustainability affects all academic areas and requires a holistic understanding of the issue, its challenges and its solutions. Participants will be given resources to distribute in their schools across departments.

Speakers

Dr Andrew Lee

Associate Fellow Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Education, UCL-IOE

Wednesday April 16, 2025 11:30am - 12:20pm BST
205 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Subject knowledge

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16

2:00pm BST

Connecting children to 'their' geography

Wednesday April 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST

207

Early Years and primary teachers know that connecting children to their locality is important. So what tools can you use? Anthony will share free data sources online to connect to locations in the UK and beyond. Participants will come and share their own free web resources, and we'll use simple data on how Oxford compares with the various locations attendees are from.

Speakers

Anthony Barlow

Principal Lecturer, University of Roehampton

Wednesday April 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2

2:00pm BST

Seamless geography: enhancing primary to secondary transition beyond the prescriptive curriculum

Wednesday April 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST

Executive suite

Progression should be deepening and developing geographical understanding, not just acquiring more facts. How do we decide what 'making progress' is and what it looks like across the different stages of education? This is a practical workshop learning from schools across Wales to develop approaches for connecting primary and secondary geography education.

Speakers

Fiona Rennie

Special interest group Wales

Alex Turley

Exhibitors

GA Welsh Special Interest Group

We focus on the concerns of the moment. Recently this has involved sharing thoughts and views on the new GCSE in Wales. Several of our team have been involved in the Qualifications Wales development group. We created the scaffolds on different themes to support the new curriculum... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm BST
Executive suite Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Secondary

Key Stage KS2, KS3

3:00pm BST

Look up: teaching local geography and history through a different lens

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:25pm BST

204

How can we develop children's understanding of their locality, connecting geography and history, through looking up?

Speakers

Dr Kate Glanville

Senior Lecturer in Primary Geography, Birmingham City University

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:00pm - 3:25pm BST
204 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage KS1, KS2

3:30pm BST

The water cycle: back to basics

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST

JHB lecture theatre

We look again at the water cycle, including: how to draw a cloud; how to make a cloud; popular misconceptions we've discovered from our climate literacy survey; the water cycle and climate change; cloud seeding and conspiracy theories; contrails (and chemtrails) and climate change; and changes to the oceans and cryosphere.

Speakers

Prof Sylvia Knight

Head of Education, Royal Meteorological Society

Sylvia Knight is Head of Education at the Royal Meteorological Society and a visiting Professor in the schools of Education and of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences at the University of Reading. With a background in climate science, her role involves supporting the... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST
JHB lecture theatre Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Cross phase

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16, Early Career Teacher

3:30pm BST

Building connections with the Migration Museum

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST

Executive suite

Join the Migration Museum's award-winning learning team to explore how migration and intersecting themes can help your pupils build connections between themselves, their local communities and their sense of national identity. Learn tried and tested approaches to engage and inspire your pupils, and build your own confidence in navigating complex topics.

Speakers

Liberty Melly

Head of Learning, Migration Museum

Tia Shah

Learning Officer, Migration Museum

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST
Executive suite Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage KS1, KS2

3:30pm BST

Let's connect: a curriculum jigsaw

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST

207

The session will explore how and why a high quality geography curriculum is more than just the sum of its parts. It will model how to embrace the interdependent nature of substantive, disciplinary and procedural knowledge. It also considers the role that creating and monitoring meaningful connections between those constituent parts has in empowering pupils to access, interpret and accumulate knowledge.

Speakers

Jon Cannell

Primary Curriculum Lead GA, Geographical Association

Wednesday April 16, 2025 3:30pm - 4:20pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Primary

Key Stage Early Years, KS1, KS2

4:20pm BST

Developing global connections: bringing the outside world in

Wednesday April 16, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST

207

This workshop will explore how we can make international connections from our classrooms and through travel. We'll consider how barriers to carrying out international fieldwork can be overcome, and discuss issues related to sustainable travel. Practical activities will include using resources from GA Study Tours, discussing fieldwork scenarios and evaluating the sustainability of travel for learning.

Speakers

Catherine Owen

Chair of International Special Interest Group

I’m Head of Geography in a 11-18 comprehensive school in Somerset.

Amy Case

Head of Geography, Latymer Upper School

Exhibitors

GA International Special Interest Group

The International Special Interest Group’s aims are:To advise and represent the GA on international matters.To establish and co-ordinate links with international geographical and educational organisations and between schools and individuals.To further the study and teaching of geography... Read More →

Wednesday April 16, 2025 4:20pm - 5:10pm BST
207 Oxford Brookes University,Headington Rd, Headington, Oxford OX3 0BP

Fieldwork

Key Stage KS2, KS3, KS4, Post-16

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 FILLING

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

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