The Geographical Association (GA) is proud to announce the appointment of several ‘Primary Geography Champions’ across the nine regions of England to help pool local expertise and promote quality geography in primary schools. The Champions will be challenged to engage with at least 1500 primary teachers over the next three years and to ensure that geography retains its place amongst those curriculum areas that are characterised by excellence and enjoyment.

Emily Richardson is one of the local champions based at Roehampton University where she is Senior Lecturer in Primary Geography Education. Here she is dressed up as Barnaby Bear - Barnaby Bear is often used in Primary Schools by children taking a toy version of him on holiday and taking photos/sending photos etc. There is also an Official Barnaby bear group on Facebook which she help set up!

The Primary Geography Champions scheme forms part of the government funded Action Plan for Geography (APG) which aims to improve the quality of school geography throughout the UK. Jointly and equally led by the GA and the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers (RGS-IBG), the APG has received an additional three years of funding following the success and impact already achieved during the first phase of the initiative.

The drive to appoint up to 54 Champions is part of the GA’s programme for Primary Geography and the first round of applications has resulted in 29 appointments. The quality of these applications has been outstanding in terms of overall enthusiasm and experience and the new Champions are a mix of class teachers, including Advanced Skills Teachers (ASTs); head teachers; Local Authority (LA) advisors and experts from Higher Education.

Chief Executive at the GA, Professor David Lambert says ‘Geography education is very relevant to a 21 st century curriculum that aims to transform learners into informed and active citizens as it enables understanding of and engagement with, the rapidly changing social,

The APG's goal is: 'To provide everyone - opinion formers, policy makers, parents and pupils - with a clear vision of geography as a relevant, powerful 21st century subject; and to equip teachers with the professional skills and support they need so that pupils enjoy and succeed in geography.'