GA Presidential trio on GeogPod

The latest episode of GeogPod is a special one featuring the current GA President, Past President and Vice President: Hina Robinson, Denise Freeman and Catherine Owen having a conversation about all things geographical and the importance of getting involved with the GA and their own decision to put themselves forward for the Presidency.

It's episode #94.

Nice to get a few mentions in passing.

GA Conference 2026 date and venue now confirmed

 I hope to see some of you there.

GA Research Report: High Quality geography fieldwork for all

Research shows that fieldwork has a positive impact on pupils’ engagement with their learning; increases their knowledge, skills and understanding; supports their achievement; improves their resilience, self-confidence and wellbeing; and boosts cohesion and a sense of belonging. Yet we are at a pivotal moment for geography fieldwork in schools.

The report High-quality geography fieldwork for all draws on the views of over 400 teachers who responded to GA consultations on fieldwork and the geography curriculum, as well as evidence from schools’ submissions to the GA’s Geography Quality Mark accreditation and discussions with geography teachers and key stakeholders.

The aim is to provide a vision of high-quality geography fieldwork for all that is:

• embedded: woven into a planned curriculum that allows for both breadth and depth
• meaningful: connecting real-world and hands-on experiences with the power of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills
• inclusive: equitable and accessible for all
• collaborative: with joined-up thinking and action across schools and other organisations
• demonstrates progression: providing a holistic and mapped progression of knowledge, skills and fluency from EYFS to key stage 5
• encourages pupil agency: empowering them to be curious and engage in fieldwork independently
• sustainable: providing sustainable fieldwork for active citizens that develops young peoples’ ‘green skills’.

The report’s author, Dr Becky Kitchen, commented:

‘This report attempts to draw together some key ideas and provide examples of high-quality fieldwork in primary and secondary schools. However, it is also designed to be used as a practical document for teachers to use as they are thinking about and planning their fieldwork. There is hopefully something for everyone: for schools where fieldwork is well-developed and embedded, to those who are just starting their journey. As we have been doing during this month of the National Festival of Fieldwork, there is much to celebrate.’

The GA is currently preparing its new 2025–30 strategic plan and this report, as well as the National Plan for Fieldwork it includes, will help to shape some of the thinking behind it.

I was intrigued by some of the quotes about the value of fieldwork.

Judith Mansell RIP

I heard the sad news today that Judith Mansell has passed away.

She was the first Education Officer of the Royal Geographical Society. She authored materials which are still available on the website to this day. She was involved in the creation of the Discovering Antarctica and Discovering the Arctic websites - the former was recently given a fresh relaunch at an event at the RGS.

She also worked on the Unlocking the Archives project - a major undertaking which received a large sum of National Lottery Funding.

She also helped with the creation of the Geography Ambassadors Scheme.

She was also a judge in the early years of the Young Geographer of the Year award, along with the tireless Rex Walford.

From the RGS News - 1999

She held the post from 1999 to 2010, working latterly with Steve Brace.

Prior to that she taught geography at Bishop's Hatfield Girls School for 11 years, having been educated at Harrow County Girls School.

She was on the project team for the Digital Learning for Key Stage 4 project which happened during the Action Plan for Geography, and was also a Trustee of the GA for some time. This was a joint project between the RGS and the GA and she was one of the people to work to support both organisations, something I think is really important at this time. She was also involved in the Young People's Geographies project in an advisory role, and contributed to the GA's journals as well, as well as TES.

She contributed to many conferences and CPD sessions during her time with both organisations, and also on committees of the AGI.

In Jeremy Krause's GA Presidential biography he talks about her contribution below:

Membership and Professional Development Committee (M&PD)
Prior to becoming Junior Vice President in 1999 I served as Hon Secretary to the GA’s M&PD Committee Chaired by Judy Mansell. This Committee no longer exists, but at this time it played the role described in its title. It carried overall responsibility for Membership and Professional Development activities such as Conference. It also held an overview of Local GA Branches. Each of these areas had a Hon Officer such as Paul McDermott for the GA’s Annual Conference. When it was decided to close down the Committee its activities moved either to Education Standing Committee (Education Group) or to paid staff at GA HQ.

She also wrote an obituary for David Wright - who contributed a great deal to Norfolk geography during his time at UEA.

From the GA Magazine, 2018 - talking about her work as the GA Branches Officer.

Update

Thanks to Claire Brown, who worked with Judy when she started out at the RGS. She says:

Judy was the Society's first Education Officer and the work that she started in that role has shaped our education programme today. Judy started our CPD programme for teachers, A Level study days, the first Young Geographer of the Year competition, and so much more.

An official RGS obituary of Judy is here.

And here's an appreciation of Judy by Steve Brace from the GA Magazine's Autumn 2025 issue.

GA Conference 2026 - session proposal window now open

The GA Conference 2026 will be in Sheffield.

The theme is "Geography makes a difference".

Here's the explanation of the theme by Catherine Owen, who will start as President on the 1st of September.

Geography helps us understand the world around us and our place in it. It teaches us about places from the local to the global and opens our eyes to different perspectives on issues. Through this and in other ways it makes a difference to our lives.

Learning about the world makes a difference to our students. Some will be fascinated to learn about concepts and processes which enable them to make sense of the complex world around them. Others will be frustrated when they learn about issues and inequalities, developing a passion for tackling challenges which may shape the direction of their lives. Gaining knowledge of the world whilst developing geospatial, green and transferable skills can also make a positive difference to students by increasing their employability and career prospects.

A high quality geography education is particularly important for students who experience disadvantage in education. Students who haven’t had the opportunity to travel learn about different people and places and the geography curriculum can be designed to enhance cultural capital. Fieldwork takes students to contrasting locations where they can learn how to work in different contexts as well as developing their geographical skills. This learning can make a difference to our students life chances, giving them confidence to navigate their way through the world.

Issues facing us can seem scary and the future uncertain. Geography makes a difference by giving students a space to learn about and discuss issues, supporting their well being. This is particularly important in relation to the Climate Crisis – geography allows us to explore the causes of this crisis and its different impacts, but also empowers us to ask questions and make choices to work towards tackling it.

As educators, we have the opportunity to reflect on our practice and consider the difference geography makes to individual young people themselves and to our society, economy and environment. How can we maximise the benefits reaped by studying geography? How do we share ideas about how to make a difference through geography?

Catherine Owen, GA Vice President 2024–25 (and President to be)

In a change from the pattern that has been in place for well over 40 years now, the venue will not be a university. More on that shortly.

If you'd like to be part of the conference by offering a session, the deadline for submission is the 31st of August.

I’ve been putting together my proposal to offer a session at the GA Conference 2026 in Sheffield. The venue and date for this will be announced shortly. If you have never spoken at the GA Conference before, why not make 2026, your first? You will receive a free day if your session is accepted, which is a double bonus. Start thinking around the conference theme of ‘Geography makes a difference’.

The GA's Initiatives Fund (GAIF) is available to support you on your conference journey. If you are an ECT or teaching outside the UK and it's your first time presenting your research or project at the conference, you can apply for funding towards your costs to attend in Sheffield.

More on the Fund here.

'Teaching Geography' consultation

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200 000 page views

Good to see another small milestone passed on this blog.

Thanks for reading!

Embedding LGBTQ+ inclusion in the geography classroom

A really useful new blog post by Jon Boden-Wright on ideas to think about. June is Pride Month.

50 years of Teaching Geography

The Summer 2025 issue of 'Teaching Geography' reflects on 50 years of the journal. There's a look back at four of the editors of the journal and their reflections.