Meaningful Maps in the Primary Classroom

I presented at a GA Primary Teachmeet yesterday, hosted by GA President Hina Robinson on the importance of maps in the Primary classroom.

My presentation is here.

Thanks to those who presented and attended. A recording will be placed on the GA's YouTube channel in a short while. 

Presidential 'shift'

The last few years has seen a significant and overdue shift towards teacher Presidents. I was the first for a while in 2021-22 but since then, we have now seen the beginning of four female state school Presidents in a row...

@geography_DAF the immediate past president @GeogMum the current vice president and next years president @RobboGeog the current president
And me, the incoming vice president in September.

4️⃣female classroom teachers in a row.
4️⃣mums.

Making the mountain taller.#GAConf25 pic.twitter.com/JIplqULxB0

— Fiona Sheriff 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧🌍 (@fiona_616) April 18, 2025

GA / IoE seminar

On the 4th of Decemember, the Geographical Association and Institute of Education held a joint seminar exploring the geography curriculum in the light of the Curriculum and Assessment Review.

I was invited to speak at the event on behalf of the RGS, but was unable to attend as I already had a previous engagement, so Catherine Souch kindly stepped in to give a summary of the work we had done on our submission to the call for evidence.

The seminar was chaired by Dr Alex Standish (IOE) with contributions from:

• Helen Martin (Primary Head)
• Hina Robinson (Head of Geography and GA President)
• Steve Brace (Chief Executive at the GA)
• Dr Catherine Souch (Head of Research and Higher Education RGS)
• Eleanor Rawling (consultant in geographical education)

The discussion explores the current geography curriculum and its GCSE and A level specifications at a time of curriculum review, alongside the progression and set-backs of the geography curriculum since its introduction in the late 1980s. Eleanor Rawling spoke at the event and she has been involved in previous iterations of the National Curriculum and worked on the National Curriculum Framework for the GA.

A recording of the contributions and Q&A is available using this link - you will need to login to Zoom in order to see it. Thanks to the GA for sharing this.

https://ucl.zoom.us/rec/share/_UX_SqYZHp1EqnnyX2DMC2QRFLB4hrsoyEBXcR_It4w1GXOGVBveh-Jkae77HQIf.KnFHjvaxWjZEouf7

Passcode: D37Zw#@+

You can watch Catherine's contribution by fast-forwarding to 34'30". She sums up the work we did in ten key bullet points.

GA Conference 2025 and GEO Live

Preparations are well underway for GA Conference 2025 and Hina Robinson's conference.

The programme is on the GA website.

Good to see what Emma Rawlings-Smith is giving the Rex Walford Lecture, and Anjana Khatwa the Public Lecture - talking about her forthcoming book.

A feature of the GA Conference for some years now is the chance for young people to attend as well. This is called GEO Live.

Details are below. Sign up on this page.

GEO Live: Future Changemakers will take place on Thursday 17 April 2025 at the GA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Oxford.

This programme, designed specially for students aged 14–18, will enthuse them about geography and its wide-ranging applications, enable them to think beyond school toward university and possible careers in geography.

Teachers can bring up to six students each to the GA Annual Conference on Thursday 17 April, where they will take part in their own programme of sessions, including workshops and special talks with young geographers, influencers and academics.

Places are free of charge and available to students of GA members only. One teacher must be booked to attend Conference as a delegate to secure the places.

To book a place for your students, and for any queries, please complete the form.

2024 Programme: Future changemakers

Thursday 17th April 2025

9.30–10.00: Registration

10.10: Attend keynote lecture

11.30–12.30: Introduction to the day housekeeping and introduction to being changemakers

Changemakers Part 1

Exploring our own identity – what personal lenses do we have on our world outlook?

12.30–1.00: Lunch on site (students bring their own lunch) & opportunity to talk to students studying geography at University

13.00–14.00 Changemakers part 2

Issues facing our world and opportunities to take action – focus on climate change

2.00–3.00: Changemakers part 3

Green jobs

3.00–3.30: Question Time – Opportunity for delegates to address questions to our Changemaker Panel

3.30 pm End

Conference 2015 poster

This is always a great time. I remember when I saw the poster for my Presidential conference for the first time, so Hina will have been excited to see this...

Important GA Conference news - a change of date

From today's GA Newsletter - make sure you are signed up to receive it...

2024: Hina Robinson

For the third year out of the last four, the GA President will be a teacher, and a female state-school teacher for the second year in a row.

Hina Robinson is the new GA President for 2024-25

I sent Hina the questions that I had given to all other Presidents and used them to create the post below. I'm grateful to Hina for the level of detail she provided and taking the time to help create this entry on the blog.

When and where were you born? 

I was born in Edgware, North London in 1977. My parents were immigrants, having moved from Kenya the year before. So I always say my ethnic background is East African Asian.

The principle of my religion – Jainism – make for a passion in geography – we strongly believe in looking after the Earth and all that is on it. 

Where did you go to school / university?

Primary school was Deansbrook Infant and Juniors. 

My first memory of geography was actually being made to feel stupid – the first time I saw the British Isles on a globe and commenting that it was a bit small – my year 4 teacher was clearly not impressed!

The year six school journey to the Lake District started to get me thinking about landforms – the first time I had been to a National Park. Parents who are first generation immigrants spend a lot of time at work and so I had only been to local country parks before. 

Secondary school was Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb – regularly topping league tables! 

The school was very fortunate to have its own field centre in Dorset which everyone went to for a week in years 8, 9 and 10. On my first visit there we did some orientation with OS maps. One of the teachers commented that I must do that a lot as I was so good with maps – but it was my first time map reading! 

I was incredibly lucky to experience these field trips – influencing my attitude to field work. The teacher that inspired me to want to take geography further was Mrs McIsaac Hall. 

Looking back it was her passion for the subject that came across in lessons to make them so good. 

My A levels were Geography, Economics and Politics. 

An Iceland trip in year 13 fuelled my interest, and work experience in a secondary school geography department in year 12 made my career path clear!

I went to my insurance university – Salford and changed my degree choice to joint honours Geography and Economics. 

I’m still not sure this was the right decision as some of the economics which involved maths was particularly tough, however the link between the two subjects is so important and I was able to study units such as environmental economics. I loved cultural geography and environmental units alike. 

I went the PGCE route at Brunel University and was lucky enough to have Bob Digby and Graham Yates as my course tutors. 

What has your career been to date?

My first job was at the Eastwood School in Leigh on Sea. In my first year there I was teaching four different subjects. I stayed two years before moving to The King John School where I stayed for 20 years! In my time there I had various roles including Head of Geography. 

After returning from maternity leave this was not a role I could keep as I went part-time. However I was Rights Respecting Schools lead and eventually picked up key stage 4 Geography lead. 

Some of my colleagues were integral to my understanding and love of geography – Alan Greenway and Anna Edwards in particular. 

My move to my current school (Southend High School for Girls) saw me lose my responsibility point in geography (my choice!). However I joined a department with a clear passion for geography and I could not be happier in my role. 

Other roles I have undertaken in school link in with geography well, which is probably why I am passionate about them. 

Currently I am Rights Respecting Schools lead and Diversity lead. Both of these roles have a grounding in human geography and the desire to ensure that all have equal opportunities regardless of any protected characteristic or where they live. 

Wider than teaching, I became interested in doing more within the subject community in 2020 during the first Covid lockdown. Decolonising geography and also making it a more inclusive subject which appealed to all became passions of mine. This started through Twitter and getting to know other geographers remotely. My first taste of presenting was a Geogchat Teachmeet, thanks to Rachael Robinson who invited me to speak as part of her slot. Emma Rawlings Smith then invited me to write part of an article for Teaching Geography. I have presented a few times since online for various groups – GeReCo amongst others. I have also edited an 'A' level Revision Guide's 2nd edition and have given some awarding bodies some EDI guidance.

What is your Presidential theme, and why did you pick it? 

My theme is Connected Geographies. 

Geography is what explains how the world works – on a physical level but also how people have developed the world. Learning about our interconnectedness is key to sustainability and equity. Geography connects different subjects together – it is difficult to find another area of education that does not have some geographical element! To develop our students into global citizens who take care of their environment they need to understand how the world is interconnected. This is so important in tackling the misconceptions that cause so many issues across the world. 

Why does the GA matter to you? 

I have been a member of the GA for 26 years – ever since Bob Digby strongly advised membership during PGCE. 

I have read all the magazines and Teaching Geography since then! It was in 2021 when a member Trustee position came up that I first thought about doing more. Susan Pike was the person who encouraged me to do this! 

I attended my first conference online in 2021 and have presented at each one since. 

It was in 2022 when Emma Rawlings Smith suggested that I should think about the President's role, followed by Bob Digby. I had never even considered this was something I could do! I have tried to develop EDI within the GA.

The GA is integral to the education community – it is vital to have a body that can represent our subject at all levels and can provide support to all educators of geography – whatever stage they teach and whatever their experience.

I have learnt so much from Denise Freeman over the past year – she has been an inspiration in her passion for the role and I hope I can do it the same justice!

You can follow Hina on @RobboGeog

Images copyright: Hina Robinson / Geographical Association / Shaun Flannery

GA Presidential Election for 2025-6

Following the call for nominations for the role of GA President 2025–26, an election is now taking place to discover the next GA President to succeed Hina Robinson, who will be GA President for 2024-5.

Nominations have been received for Catherine Owen and Kit Marie Rackley.

The GA President holds a number of key responsibilities, including setting the theme of the GA Annual Conference, chairing the Conference Planning Board and delivering the Presidential Lecture at Conference.

The President serves as Vice President (2024–5) in their first year and as an ex-officio member of Education Group. In the second year, as President (2025–6), they will also serve as the Chair of Education Group. 

Following their presidency, they serve for one further year as Immediate Past President (2026–7) and remain as a member of the GA’s Governing Body. 

Throughout the period of office, they work with the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive to help steer the work of the Governing Body and the Association.

Read the statements from the two candidates and vote for your preferred choice by the 26th of February. You have a month to shape the future of the GA through your decision here. 

This election continues a trend of having more teacher Presidents put themselves forward than has historically been the case.

The new President will also be working with a new GA Chief Executive.

You have until the 5th of February to apply for that exciting role. Details here.

And if you want to vote and you aren't already a GA member, then now is your perfect opportunity to join and have your say.

Hina Robinson - the new GA Vice President

Good luck to Hina - check back in a year's time to see her entry on the blog...

Congratulations to Hina Robinson (@RobboGeog), the new @The_GA Vice President (and President in 2024-25). Already a huge figure in the Geography education community (and a good friend), @geography_DAF and I are really looking forward to working with you in you new role! pic.twitter.com/S0oPDUSSPo

— Alastair Owens (@AlastairHackney) September 1, 2023

GA President for 2024-5 announced as Hina Robinson

The GA Conference 2023 was a great success and I am blogging my experiences over at LivingGeography.

One of the events that happens at the GA Conference is the big reveal of who will be the GA President in two years time, and begin as Vice President in September of that year.

So this happened today...excited but daunting!! @The_GA #GAConf23 pic.twitter.com/zEtORtsiw3

— Hina Robinson 🌍 (@RobboGeog) April 13, 2023

This year, the person revealed was Hina Robinson. 

Hina is already an elected trustee and has also been involved with several GA events in the past. She has also presented at the GA Conference a number of times, and last year brought her students to an event at my conference in Guildford. She is the Chair of Governors of a Primary school and co-chair of the GA's working group which has been exploring inclusion and diversity.

She teaches at Southend High School for Girls, where she is also Diversity Lead.

You can see her in action on this GERECO page where she was part of an event exploring teaching about the anthropocene along with a range of speakers and contributors. If you haven't seen this before it's well worth a watch by the way.

Hina is on Twitter and is worth a follow so that you can follow her progress through the next three years.

Hina's appointment is a significant moment for the GA.