Geographical Association

Branch Contacts and Programmes
Starting up a GA Branch
New Wave Local Branches

Welcome to the Branch pages. There are currently more than 40 Branches affiliated to the Geographical Association in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Each Branch arranges its own local programme of events for the benefit of the geographical community in the area. Programmes can include:

Subscriptions to join local Branches, or entrance fees for individual events, are often set at very low levels.

Many Branches welcome involvement in their decision-making and planning, so if the support you feel you need is not available locally, do talk to the Branch Secretary about the possibility of joining the committee.

If there is no information about a Branch in your area, please contact Frances Soar.

The GA has a register of consultants who are available to give presentations on a variety of topics related to geography and geography education. Topics covered by our speakers include curriculum development, GIS, fieldwork, global issues, sustainability and risk assessment. Presentations may include talks, lectures, workshops or seminars. Visit the GA Consultants page where you can search for speakers by region, and also view a brief bio, a list of specialist areas, and contact details.

Juanita Shepherd of the Sheffield and District Branch provided a handy guide to starting up your own GA Branch in the Spring 2008 issue of GA Magazine. The article is provided here free, together with a set of templates used by the Sheffield and District Branch. GA members can login to read the rest of GA Magazine.

Download: 'Starting up a GA branch' (PDF, 209k)
Download: Accounts Template (Excel Worksheet, 20k)
Download: Events Calendar Template (Word, 98k)
Download: Event Feedback Form Template (Word, 98k)
Download: Press Release Template (Word, 34k)
Download: Receipt Template (Word, 43k)

If you have any questions about setting up a Branch, please contact Membership Services Manager Frances Soar.

GA Branches come in all shapes and sizes. In Belfast, 400+ students turning out to top up their geography is not unusual. In Watford, the local Branch is currently regrouping. Some Branches maintain links between school and HE geography brilliantly, although few have catered for primary geography.

GA Council has agreed it wants to promote all manner of Branch activity – there is no 'template'. To set up a local Branch is remarkably easy (email Frances Soar or telephone on 0114 296 0088). The moment is right to catch the new wave of Branch activity – dedicated to supporting geography teaching and learning in the locality.

For example, virtually all the new Humanities Specialist Schools with geography named as one of the lead subjects have endorsed the idea that they should form new GA Branches. This would enable the school to hold developmental meetings in partnership with neighbouring secondary schools and the ‘family’ of local primary schools.

The GA has arranged that for around £300 such a Branch can buy ten passwords (for one year) for the OU/BBC Teach and Learn online CPD materials. Several GA members have been party to producing these – at present only available by whole school or LEA subscription. They can form the basis for sustained, cross-phase curriculum and teacher development. Of course, such local, autonomous work is further supported by the GA Handbooks.