GA North Staffs Branch Programme

Thanks to Kate Russell for sharing the programme of the GA North Staffs Branch - another one that I have visited and spoken at.

There's a definite physical slant to the talks, and good to see Ilan Kelman on the schedule too.

Coming soon from the GA Manchester Branch

 

Northern Ireland GA Branch events

 Booking link is here.

Entry to the lecture will cost £2 - you can pay via Eventbrite if choosing to watch online or pay at the door if attending in person.

Bristol GA Branch

GA Branches are starting to post their programmes for the year ahead.

The GA Bristol branch has a good website and has started to post events.

The first one is from Robin Markwell.

Wed 23rd Sep 2026: 7.00-8.30 pm

Robin Markwell (BBC reporter, producer, presenter)

Reporting on environmental impacts of mining and much more (draft title)

Robin will draw upon his extensive experience working for BBC Radio 4 and the World Service with stories of relevance for geographers.

Launching 30th September: the North London GA Branch

University College School has been working for a while to develop a new GA Branch for North London.

Launching with a lecture by Lucy Easthope on 30th September 2026. 

Local schools will be invited in the coming days!

The branch will offer a number of events over the course of the year including:

 
- Guest lectures by Lucy Easthope, Danny Dorling and others tbc
- COP negotiation simulations
- The WorldWise Quiz
- CPD sessions for teachers
- Leadership opportunities for pupils

Given Lucy Easthope's specialism in disaster recovery - her book is excellent if you haven't seen it already - this sounds like being a particularly useful session.

GeoLincs - 18th March

GeoLincs is the South Lincolnshire GA Branch. I visited when it was in Bourne, back in 2015 in an early meeting of the branch. I'd just taken over as Head of Geography at King's Ely Junior (now Prep) and took a drive over to speak to a good group of teachers. I'm heading back there next month.

Via LinkedIn from Dr. Aidan Hesslewood, who is a fellow moderator on the GA's Secondary Geography Quality Mark moderation team.

The second Geolincs session of this academic year is approaching, and we have Richard Bustin and Alan Parkinson coming along to share lots of important ideas: Wednesday 18th March, from 1400-1700 (light refreshments included) at Spalding Grammar School.

I’m really excited to welcome Alan back to the branch (he last spoke in 2015) and to Richard for the first time, and I hope you can join us for a stimulating afternoon of geography curriculum discussion, particularly in light of upcoming reforms. This session will be suitable for all: student teachers, teachers, subject leads, and senior leaders.

Feel free to message me here if you'd like to come along.

Geolincs (the GA branch for South Lincs and surrounding counties) aims to sustain excellence in geography education in Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties. It is a non-profit network that provides opportunities for professional growth and events are completely free to attend. 

It endeavours to:
· Explore and develop teaching expertise and subject knowledge
· Share ideas through participation and networking
· Provide a forum for debate and discussion

Here's the title slide from my presentation. Hope to see some of you there.

GA Cambridge Branch GeogMeet 2025

This June, the GA Branch is running another GeogMeet.

This will be the seventh Geog-Meet; held online in June this year. 

Deadlines for submission proposals are on Friday 28th March. 

Successful submission proposals will be asked to produce their presentations by the end of May.

 The evening event will be held in June. If you are new to the Geog-Meet process and would like some guidance in putting forwards your students for the first time, please get in touch with James Riley (jriley@perse.co.uk) who would be happy to assist.

New GA Manchester Branch blog

 The GA Manchester Branch has a new blog. I always like to see more people turning to blogging rather than TikTok and the like...

The branch is one of the oldest, and has previously been recognised by the GA for its importance. Manchester also regularly hosts the GA Conference. I've been privileged enough to speak at the branch in the past.

There's a useful calendar of future events and summaries of previous events.

Cath White Memorial Lecture 2024

I am honoured to have been asked to give the Cath White Memorial Lecture for the GA Tyne and Wear Branch, which is based at Northumbria University or a local school at Tynemouth for most of its lectures - a place that Cath invited me to speak at several times when I was a little more mobile and active speaking at GA Branches.

Cath was involved with the University and active in so many ways and spheres. She is remembered fondly.

Here's the details of the lecture.

Title: 'Professional zest and pedagogical longevity: the importance of everyday geographies'.

Blurb:
Alan will explore the importance of everyday engagement with the discipline, and how his ongoing interest in technology, travel and photography have influenced his teaching and resource projects. Drawing on Michael Storm's notion of the importance of 'professional zest', he will explore what has kept him teaching for so long, and share some current work. This includes curriculum development, and textbook writing, so there will be plenty of interesting ideas and stories to take away, whether you are an educator, student or just curious about geography's potential for explaining our changing world.

Here's the poster advertising the event.

If you're in the area it would be lovely to see you.

If you're a teacher, please bring some students.

Richard Dilley - RIP

Sad news about the passing of Richard Dilley, who was the oldest member of the Cambridge branch of the GA. I met him and Keith several times over the years, and we met by chance a number of times travelling to GA Conferences from Peterborough Train station with former GA President Keith Grimwade.

This piece is in the Summer 2024 issue of 'GA Magazine'.

Image copyright: Geographical Association

M. R. G. Conzen

Another post on people who were never President, but served the Association in various ways.

Conzen was born in 1907 and died in 2000.

1935–2000: Member of the Geographical Association - 65 years a member!

 Michael Conzen was born in Berlin, the only child of parents with strong artistic bents. Conzen decided that geography was going to be his subject through map reading, hiking in the countryside, and reading, not through the inspiration of his teachers. He entered the University of Berlin's famed Geographical Institute in 1926, when it was at the zenith of its intellectual reputation. He was taught by, amongst others, Albrecht Penck, Otto Schlüter, Hans Bobek and Alfred Wegener, the latter of whom gave lectures on his revolutionary theories of 'continental drift.

In 1933, Conzen fled Germany for London where his fiancée, and future wife, Freda, was studying. There was little call for geography teachers in depression-hit Britain and so, thanks to the advice proffered by the then Geographical Association President, H.J. Fleure, Conzen enrolled as one of the first two students on a new course in town and country planning at the University of Manchester, subsequently working for four years as a planner in Cheshir

Fleure's involvement was through the International Student Service that was engaged in trying to help the many young refugees entering Britain in the 1930s and 40s.

Freda was employed in the GA office, typing, packing up parcels for the lending library and the like; whilst, 'Con' was employed to redraw many of the maps for publication, and became one of the regular reviewers of books for Geography through the later 1930s (signed G.C.). This was good practice for writing academic geography in English and culminated with one of the few reviews published in Britain of Richard Hartshorne's The Nature of Geography in volume 2.

In 1946, Conzen moved to Newcastle where he began lecturing for GA Branches all over the north of England through the 1950s and 1960s.

He is survived by his son Michael, Professor of Geography at the University of Chicago.

Happy to learn more about Mr. Conzen's involvement with the GA.

Source:

Slater, Terry. “M.R.G. Conzen, 1907-2000.” Geography, vol. 85, no. 4, 2000, pp. 355–355. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40573480. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.

https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/documents/college-les/gees/mrgconzencv.pdf

Conzen, M.R.G., 1958, “The Growth and Character of Whitby”, G.H.J., Daysh (Ed.), A Survey of Whitby and the Surrounding Area, Shakespeare Head Press, Eton, pp.49-89. 

http://spacesyntaxistanbul.itu.edu.tr/papers/invitedpapers/Jeremy_whitehand.pdf

Dorothy Mary Preece

Preece was a teacher in Crewe. Always good to find out more about the women who helped shape the GA in the past. Always good when an old branch comes back to life...

She was a Geography Mistress at Crewe County Grammar School.

She wrote some books with H.R.B. Wood.

Source:

https://epdf.tips/complex-locations-rgs-ibg-book-series.html

If anyone has further information on D M Preece that would be appreciated as always.

2023: Denise Freeman

Denise Freeman will be the GA President for next year: 2023-24

Denise is another serving teacher President, which is rare but also a female state school teacher President, which is very rare indeed. I think she may be the first to be a secondary classroom teacher rather than in a leadership role.

Denise is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

I sent Denise the questions that I had given to all other Presidents and used them to create the post below. I'm grateful to Denise for the level of detail she provided.

When and where were you born? 

"I was born in May 1977, in Ipswich, Suffolk."

Where did you go to school / university?

"I grew up in Ipswich, having what can only be described as a very standard and uneventful childhood. I went to school in Ipswich, starting at Britannia Primary School, before moving onto Copleston High School and then Northgate High School to do my A Levels, where I was taught by Mr. Murray, who I'm still in touch with.

Mr. Murray of SLN and Geography Photos (GA Award-winner) fame it turns out.

I didn’t begin to show any great passion for geography until year 10. 

I had attempted to make a Plaster of Paris volcano with my Dad and it failed terribly (we found we had used some sort of paint rather than plaster). I was also well known for my terrible knowledge of where places were, something I am ribbed for to this day (I am much clearer on this now!)

Throughout Primary school and early on in Secondary school I had been very interested in History, particularly the Tudors and was most concerned that I wouldn’t get to study it at GCSE due to limited availability on the course. 

Then I went to the options talk for Geography, heard all about the Amazon Rainforest, and the rest (as they say) is history!

I was completely captivated by my geography teacher, Mr Moon and his almost lecture-style delivery (perhaps even geographical sermons) on consumerism, the planet and urban issues. 

Highlights for me, at school, were learning about Glasgow, urban models and visiting Milton Keynes. I loved learning about redevelopment and new towns. I also had Mr Moon for Sociology and found so many connections between the two subjects, and in particular my growing interest in urban geography. I could apply knowledge from sociology to my geographical studies e.g the cycle of poverty, the culture of poverty, race, class and gender. The focus on research methods in Sociology is really useful to help with fieldwork planning. Today, I find myself cross-referencing Sociology in my lessons a lot.

My Dad also played a key part in fostering my love for geography, taking me places, including Sheringham to do my A Level fieldwork! 

We still enjoy a good geographical discussion today, usually about energy and climate change."

Image: Denise's dad on a fieldwork trip to Sheringham

"I took three A Levels: English, Sociology and Geography. I also did AS Photography. I continue to make links between all my subjects, including taking endless photographs of the places I visit.

I went to the University of Reading to study for a BSc in Human Geography. 

I am still slightly amused (along with my Dad) that I have a BSc, as my Science and Maths are not always great. 

I made some poor module choices in my first year and often wish I could go back today, and do it again! I was so committed to my Human Geography (and terrified of Physical Geography) that I took all the Human modules I could, including those outside of the Geography department. This led me to a Law module, which I did terribly at! 

I regret this choice now and wish I had had the confidence to study more Geography in Year 1. Ironically, I now really enjoy teaching some Physical Geography topics and can of course see the interconnections between all areas of our discipline. 

There was a great module, about the representation of Place in films. I still regret not picking this!

At university my main areas of interest were Development Studies with Dr Sally Lloyd Evans and Tourism with Erlet Cater. I also enjoyed some Planning modules with Michael Breheny. A real highlight for me was a field trip to Glasgow, in which we visited some of the edge of city housing estates I had learned about at High School. We spent a day on one estate in the local community centre, interviewing people. I was captivated and Glasgow remains a top fieldwork destination for me and my students today.

I went on to complete my PGCE and an MA in Geography in Education, both at the Institute of Education, University of London. 

My PCGE year was a special time for me, with so many fires lit! 

I embraced both of my teaching practices and was inspired by those around me, including David Balderstone as my tutor, and later during my MA, Dr Claire Brooks and Dr Alun Morgan."


Tell us about your career to date:

"When I left University, I worked for a year for Eastern Power and Energy Trading, part of the Eastern Group (energy company). I worked in the accounting department (another ironic move for me). I had no idea what I wanted to do when ‘I grew up’! My Dad said I would make a good teacher but I scoffed at such a suggestion…

One day I visited a recruitment fayre in Islington. I got chatting to two Primary teachers on a teaching stand. Again, the rest is history.

I currently work as a geography teacher at Oaks Park High School in the London Borough of Redbridge, where I have been teaching since September 2003! 

Having previously been Head of Geography, Head of Humanities and ITT lead, I now have responsibility for our own bespoke ECF programme and I look after the many ECTs who complete it."

What theme did you choose when President, and why did you pick it? 

What had been your involvement with the GA leading up to that time, and since that time?

"I joined the Geographical Association when I was a trainee teacher in 1999. 

We were advised to join by UCL (Institute of Education), which was very good advice! Membership was free in this training year and I really made use of the support the organisation offered. I have very distinct memories of sitting in the staff room of my placement school with my first copy of Teaching Geography magazine open, fervently reading through looking for examples of classroom resources, teaching ideas and anything that helped me understand my new role as a teacher better. I can still picture some of the pages I read and the front cover (see below)

I could see real teachers doing what I was starting to love doing, and they had some great ideas and thoughts on good classroom practice. 

Of particular interest was an article by Susan Bermingham on ‘multiple Texts, alternative texts and multiple readings’. 

I was passionate about this topic at the time and remember devouring it all.

I should declare my training year was a great one and is a period that is clearly etched in my memory!

I attended the GA Conference frequently in the early years of my teaching career. I have very fond memories of going to Brighton with another teacher from my PGCE course: Caroline Kemp, and taking part in one of the field trips around the city. I also remember Alun Morgan and his giant Earth Balloon and taking part in a panel discussion in Derby, giving advice to NQTs.

Since this time, I have written a number of chapters for the GA Secondary Handbook and contributed to Teaching Geography magazine myself, most recently writing about supporting students with visual impairments in geography. I am also active in the geographical community, online and beyond, which the GA and its members are a key part of.

As part of the Presidential cycle, I have spent the past year as a Trustee for the GA, sitting on the Governing Body, something I have found to be great CPD for me and an enjoyable experience. I have also met so many interesting and inspiring people.

I am really enjoying planning the GA Conference for 2024 and am looking forward to the event."

What is your Presidential theme, and how did it develop?

"My chosen theme for the conference is ‘Geography for Everyone’. 

I chose this as I am really captivated by the idea that we all have our own geographical journeys and areas of interest. I am keen to hear about (and celebrate) all of these personal passions for Geography at the conference, but also to consider how our lived experience shapes our geographical interests and the way we see the world around us. I am also passionate about discussions around how we can make geography as inclusive and accessible to all (particularly in the classroom).

I have been very lucky over the past few years to collaborate with so many wonderful and inspiring people in the GA, including Past Presidents. I can’t even begin to list them all here but thanks to everyone in the GA for all their encouragement so far, on my journey.

After meeting at the GA Teachmeet in 2019, I have enjoyed ‘working’ with Dr. Susan Pike on many occasions including hosting an online session for our students and her trainees, leading a workshop at the recent Guildford conference and writing a chapter together for an upcoming publication. 

Denise in action in 2022 - Image copyright Shaun Flannery / Geographical Association

All of this arose from sharing our nerves in a packed room at the University of Manchester (although I am sure Susan was just being polite and wasn’t nervous at all)! 

I have future ideas for collaboration with Susan, as part of my Presidential year, she just doesn’t know it yet! 

In Manchester, I also met Kit Marie Rackley and the wonderful Bob Digby. Both have been very supportive of me, with Kit visiting and leading a session for my local East London teacher hub. Another great support over recent years has been Brendan Conway. Again, I met him in Manchester in 2019. Although we had chatted via Twitter, a face to face meeting was great and led to collaboration, including hosting a joint workshop at the 2023 Sheffield conference. Brendan has supported so many of my online hub events and answered many an IT question. 

In 2019, I also met Alan Parkinson face to face. Again, we had conversed online but it was great to meet in person. Alan's support for the GA and those undertaking roles in the Governing Body and as President is intensely valuable. It goes to show, so much can come out of attending the GA conference and making strong connections! 2019 was a great conference year for me!

Denise is announced as the GA President elect in 2022.

Image copyright: Shaun Flannery / Geographical Association

Finally, over the past year, I have worked with Professor Alastair Owens, supporting him in my role as Vice President. It has been such a pleasure to do this and we have made a great team and I now have a great ‘outside of work colleague’ that I can turn to for advice and guidance. Thanks Alastair. Can’t wait to grow the same relationship with Hina Robinson!"

Good luck to Denise in her role.

Denise's Presidential conference will take place from the 4th to the 6th of April 2024 at the University of Manchester. You can find out more here.

Most images provided by and copyright Denise Freeman unless otherwise captioned

As part of my @The_GA presidential year, I am heading out on tour! Myself & students from @OaksParkHighSch will be visiting schools & universities, advocating for geography, sharing lived experiences of place, and promoting geography for all. Watch this space for updates! https://t.co/pwB8fQj8AZ

— Denise Freeman 🌎🙋🏻‍♀️ (@geography_DAF) September 1, 2023

Professor Alice Coleman - RIP

'Bad design does not determine anything, but it increases the odds against which people have to struggle to maintain civilised standards'

Alice Coleman

I recently heard that Alice Coleman had sadly passed away just short of her 100th birthday.

We had prepared a celebration of her work with the help of Peter Vujakovic. It was published in the Summer 2023 issue of GA Magazine.

GA Magazine is received three times a year by GA members.

There will be further comment later, but the piece can be seen below. Alice leaves a tremendous legacy of work and did a great deal to support and further the cause of the GA in several respects. I have a copy of the handbook for the Land Use Survey she coordinated. 

She was a teacher, as well as working at King's College, London - with which the GA has had many close connections over the years.

Alice Coleman from GeoBlogs

Update

An obituary of #geographer Prof Alice Coleman is included in the latest episode of @BBCRadio4
The Last Word by @Bannmatt

Listen belowhttps://t.co/y7uDYsOkZ0

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) June 9, 2023

Telegraph obituary. 

Just hearing @LorettaCLees
talking of theory iflack of defensible space in modernist housing developed in #geographer Alice Coleman's work. & Coleman's advocacy her work to M. Thatcher & taking Prince Charles on field trip to the blocks too #thelastwordhttps://t.co/y7uDYsOkZ0

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) June 11, 2023

Reading

Utopia on Trial - available from the Internet Archive. 

Update August 2023

Here's an image of Alice with a former GA President: W G V Balchin.

He was the guest speaker at the GA Thanet Branch in 1996

Alice wrote Balchin's Obituary for the GA.

Tribute to pioneering geography professor and former Broadstairs resident Alice Coleman - https://t.co/WXkdXKgaYq

— Isle of Thanet News (@IsleThanetNews) June 13, 2023

Tribute to pioneering geography professor and former Broadstairs resident Alice Coleman - https://t.co/WXkdXKgaYq

— Isle of Thanet News (@IsleThanetNews) June 13, 2023

Centenary Royal patronage in 1993 - the Centenary year

In 1993, Princess Anne visited the GA's Centenary conference as a result of an invitation, which I came across when looking in the GA Archives earlier in the week. 

She was asked to be Patron of the GA's Centenary celebrations. I came across a number of original letters relating to this visit.

Here's the invitation to her, written by Simon Catling from the GA Archive - copyright with the GA as with all archive images, newspaper and journal extracts etc.

I also found the original version of the image below, which has been reproduced elsewhere.... I recognised Simon Catling on the right but not the other two gentlemen. 

It turns out that the person on the left in this image is Paul May, who was teaching at Wickersley Comprehensive School at the time. This was the school I went to (and left in 1982 to start my degree).

Here's the caption that I came across:

She is seen holding a copy of the GA's 'Teaching Geography' journal, and also a copy of W G V Balchin's Centenary volume, which has been a major source of information for many of the entries on this blog.

There was a report on the visit in the GA News. I came across a complete bound copy of all early issues of GA News.

Princess Anne spoke for 25 minutes, and pointed out the value of Geography in several different ways. 

Source:

Boardman, David, and Michael McPartland. “A Hundred Years of Geography Teaching Towards Centralisation: 1983—1993.” Teaching Geography, vol. 18, no. 4, 1993, pp. 159–63. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23754550. Accessed 19 Aug. 2022.

GA Birmingham Branch

One of the aspects of the Presidential year that I always planned to do was to speak to as many GA Branches as wanted me to be there...

I won't be making thelong journey across country to Birmingham next Wednesday but will be joining the GA Branch there by Zoom to do a session at the end of the day.

Details of the session are here:

Wednesday 1^st December 2021 4-5pm

"A day in the Life: Enquiring into Everyday Geographies in the curriculum" 

Teacher talk

Mr Alan Parkinson, CGeog, FRGS, FRSGS

Head of Geography at King's Ely (Junior), author & freelance geography consultant 

President, Geographical Association 21-22

RSGS Tivy Medal winner 2013

@GeoBlogs

Alan Parkinson is an inspirational geographer and teacher who is the current President of the Geographical Association. This talk will be of great interest to all Geography teachers whatever their experience of teaching from trainee teachers to teachers of many years. This is a highlight of this year’s talks.

I hope it's a highlight :) Looking forward to finding out what I'm going to say. I may just talk about Peppa Pig World...

GA Worcester Branch Programme - 1978-9

 From the GA Archives at 160 Solly Street.

Isle of Man Branch - 100 years young

In 'The Geographical Teacher' of Autumn 1921, there was a report of the inaugural meeting of the Isle of Man Branch of the GA. Congratulations on your centenary year.

Source: “Editorial.” The Geographical Teacher, vol. 11, no. 3, 1921, pp. 131–135. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40555625. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

GA Branches and their role

Richard Yarwood wrote an article, which was published in the journal 'Area' in 2007 exploring the value of GA branches in connecting schools with academic geographers.

GA Branches are a way in to engaging with the GA. It will be so good to get face to face meetings back as soon as possible, and in the meantime many branches are involved in virtual events and other ways to keep people engaged with the subject.



Yarwood, Richard, and Teresa Davison. “Bridges or Fords? Geographical Association Branches and Higher Education.” Area, vol. 39, no. 4, 2007, pp. 544–550. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40346076. Accessed 4 Apr. 2020.

Valuing Places

I spoke to Di Swift recently about the origins of the Valuing Places project which she said was one of the most influential of all the GA's projects and also marked a change in the nature of the Association. The project ran from 2003-2006.

As mentioned in recent posts, it was Chris Kington who made a bold decision to take the GA into deficit by appointing several full time officers, including a CEO.

Valuing Places was a CPD-led curriculum development project (2003-06) which explored how teaching about places within key stages 2 and 3 developed students' understanding of global interconnections. It paving the way for the GA's later work on 'Living Geography'.

Key Aims

• Increase public understanding of our global mutual dependence and the need for international development by valuing the uniqueness of places at a variety of scales and exploring how these are interconnected.
• Educate every pupil in the country about development issues so that they can understand the key global considerations that will shape their lives.
• Establish a real understanding of our interdependence and of the relevance of development issues to people's everyday lives.

By exploring localities familiar to us and linking these at a variety of scales, Valuing Places was about valuing ourselves in those places, revealing our roles and responsibilities towards both the people and environment and all the other places that our place is linked to.

Another key focus of the project was inclusivity. Through the involvement of an extremely large number of teachers and pupils a wide range of teaching and learning styles was used both in terms of professional development and in terms of the resources produced.

Valuing Places also aimed to promote opportunities to raise standards of achievement. Teachers were engaged and motivated by their involvement in some sophisticated debates about the global dimension in their teaching about place. Pupils were equally valued, since they were the starting point of the work - their views, their places and their connections with the wider world.

The project had a number of regional officers.

A special edition of 'Teaching Geography' in 2005 looked back at the project and its outcomes.

References

Valuing Places: https://www.geography.org.uk/Valuing-Places

Teaching Geography, Spring 2005 - special edition,