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Read about Conference 2026
Throughout the three days of the Geographical Association Annual Conference that took place in April there was a multitude of ways to network and socialise, from special events to informal meetings, knowledge-sharing events and evening activities.
Take a look here to find out more or head to our online programme on Sched.
Details for 2027 will be coming soon.
View the 2026 programme
Extra events
Alongside our main programme of lectures, field visits, workshops and more, the conference offers a range of opportunities to take part and network. Follow the links below to find out more.
Headline lectures
Public lecture
The Whispers of Rock: Stories from the Earth
From the soils that sustain our crops to the homes we’ve built, the technology we rely on, our biological makeup and even the coffee you drink, rocks have had a profound influence on human life. Join Earth Scientist Anjana Khatwa as she explores the wisdom that lies in the ‘whispers’ we hear when we personally connect with the rocks around us.
Dr Anjana Khatwa
Presidential Lecture
Connected Geographies
Hina Robinson, GA President 2024-25
Keynote lecture
Nairobi National Park – a case study of connected geographies
Paras Chandaria
Rex Walford memorial lecture
What constitutes a good geography education in a rapidly changing world?
With the current curriculum and assessment review in England underway, debate about the purpose of geography as a school subject and the narrow focus of the current assessment system has re-engaged teachers of geography with the fundamental question, ‘What constitutes a good geography education?’ In this lecture, Emma draws on evidence from the GA’s Secondary Geography Quality Mark to explore the contribution that high-quality geography and agentic curriculum making can make to the education of children and young people in our rapidly changing world.
Dr Emma Rawlings Smith
Primary keynote (new for 2025)
Rebecca Leek
(TBC)
Field visits and training
15 April
Emergency first aid for geography teachers
A special two-hour course to refresh your skills or provide new training for teachers. Learn best practice for dealing with incidents on school trips and around the classroom. Gain skills to handle bleeding, choking, carrying out CPR and the use of a defibrillator, as well as advice on topics such as asthma, anaphylaxis and seizures.
The course is fully practical, offering the chance to revisit skills or learn new ones in a supportive environment. It is offered free to attendees at the GA conference and a two-year certificate will be provided for all participants on completion of the session.
Course lead: Dr Paula Richardson
Time: 14:00–16:00
Exploring Bicester: a town of change
This field visit will take you on a walking tour of Bicester, exploring some of the sites that make it an interesting case study of urban change. We’ll visit: Graven Hill, the UK’s largest self-build estate; a restaurant that supports population control in Thailand; and, of course, Bicester Village, the second most visited location in the UK by Chinese tourists after Buckingham Palace.
Visit lead: Dr Becky Kitchen
Time: 14:00–17:00
Connecting to the geography of a single grid square
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.
Visit lead: Chloë Searl
Time: 14:30–16:30
Fieldwork connections: the role of games and challenges in fieldwork for young people
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.
Visit lead: Ollie Davies, GA ISSIG
Time: 15:00–16:00
16 April
Fieldwork for connectivity
As geographers, it’s crucial we think synoptically and consider multiple geographies and connections to understand the world around us. Fieldwork brings these connections to life; the multi-scaled techniques shared in this session will facilitate students’ holistic understanding, enabling breadth and depth in NEA investigations and supporting theoretical understanding.
Visit lead: Sam Harley, Field Studies Council
Time: 11:30–12:30
17 April
Empowering tomorrow’s geographers: bringing links to life
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.
Visit lead: Charlotte Foster, Field Studies Council
Time: 11:30–12:30
Conference TeachMeet
16 April (19:00–20:00)
Each year, we bring together colleagues from around the GA community at our Annual Conference, as a chance to cap off the second day with take away ideas and lively conversation.
The Conference TeachMeet is organised alongside our strategic partners Discover the World Education as an informal way for colleagues to share ideas informally outside of the main conference programme.
The event will take place from 19.00 – 20.00 in The Terrace, with drinks and snacks provided. Please pre-book to secure your place.
Proudly sponsored by Discover the World Education
Evening events
15 April
Conference dinner (20:00 – 22:00)
Join us in The Terrace restaurant after the Public Lecture to finish off your first day at conference with a buffet-style dinner of locally sourced and sustainable dishes.
16 April
Celebratory reception (17.00 – 18.00)
Proudly sponsored by OCR
Quiz and buffet (20.00 – 22.00)
Join us for a fun evening of geographical brainteasers and good company. A cash sale bar and buffet will be available as part of the event.
Pre-booking is required for all evening events to secure your place.
Networking opportunities
GA popup stand
Throughout conference, stop by the GA popup to meet members of our phase committees, special interest groups and branches, and find out more about what it means to be a GA volunteer.
First-timers’ reception
During the morning break on 16 April, come to the conference social space to meet other first-time conference attendees and meet GA staff and volunteers for an informal chat.
International networking
Primary meet and greet
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.
The primary meet and greet session is kindly sponsored by Kapow Primary
