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28.
November
2012.
Young Geographers of the Year announced by The Royal Geographical Society

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Media Release
 
  • Young Geographers of the Year announced by The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)     

Young geographers proved they know their local geography and world connections,as the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Geographical magazine's Young Geographer of the Year winners were announced.

The awards were presented to students in a special ceremony at the Society's headquarters in Kensington, London on Friday, 23 November 2012.

This year's competitiondraws its inspiration from the Society's ‘Walk the World' project, part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. Walk the World invites people to explore their local connections to the 206 Olympic and Paralympic participating nations. Students wereasked to explain theconnections between their own local area and the 206 Olympic and Paralympic participating nations, and to show how they influence upon its geography.

The question allowed students to look at the way in which geography surrounds us all and to better understand the connections between the world's people, places and environments and the interactions taking place between them. 

Commenting on the winners, Steve Brace, Head of Education at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said:

"I am delighted with the quality of entries this year, and was particularly impressed to see our young geographers providing such insightful and knowledgeable information links between their local area and Olympic and Paralympic participating nations, and how they influence the geography."

 
 
Each category had one overall winner and three highly commended entries. The winners were:

  • 9 - 11 years category:Freja Fuchs - Winchester House School, Brackley, Northamptonshire

  • 12 - 14 years category:Ollie Barnard, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

  • 14 - 16 years category:Coco Huggins, Godolphin & Latymer School, Hammersmith

  • 16 - 18 years category:George McMullen, Lancaster Royal Grammar School

The Society was also delighted to announce the winner of The Rex Walford Award for PGCE students and newly qualified geography teachers (NQT), reflecting the late Rex Walford's passion for training new geography teachers. This was awarded for the best set of teaching resources, scheme of work or lesson plans linked to this year's Young Geographer competition. The winner of the annual award was Leanne Milner from Beauchamp College in Oadby. Leicestershire. 
 

Prizes included personalized maps, wall maps and atlases, book vouchers and a year's subscription to the Society's magazine, Geographical. 
 

ENDS

Notes to editors:

  1. To contact the winners, please get in touch with their teachers/schools, as detailed below. For further media enquiries, please contact the RGS-IBG media office on 020 7591 3019 or emailpress@rgs.org, for whom requests for photographs of the winners can also be made.

  2. Details of winners and commended entries:
     

  • 9 - 11 years category

 Winner: Freja Fuchs - Winchester House School, Brackley, Northamptonshire

Highly Commended entries:

 Tegan Hayward - Crow Orchard Primary School, Skelmersdale, Lancashire

Isobel Taylor - Haileybury College, Hertford

Josh Gregory - Colet Court Prep School, Barnes
 

  • 12 - 14 years category

Winner:Ollie Barnard, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford

Highly Commended entries:

Trinity Cox, Grey Coat Hospital School, Westminster

Ben Shenton, St Mary's College, Crosby

Rebecca Aspin, Sacred Heart RC School, Redcar
 

  • 14 - 16 years category

Winner: Coco Huggins, Godolphin & Latymer School, Hammersmith

Highly Commended entries:

Cara Dobinson, Southend High School for Girls

Jenny Spencer, Northwood College

Taylor James, Glenmoor School, Bournemouth
 

  • 16 - 18 years category

Winner:George McMullen, Lancaster Royal Grammar School

Highly Commended entries:
 
Jennifer Snell, South Wiltshire Grammar School, Salisbury

Tilly Robinson-Miles, King Edward VI Five Ways School, Birmingham

Ciara McQuillan, St Edwards College, Liverpool
 

  1. The Young Geographer of the Year competition is run by The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) andGeographicalMagazine. The competition began in 2000 and has become a regular feature on many schools' calendars. Announced in the July edition of the magazine, thecompetition is open to young geographers throughout the UK and Europe under the age of 19 years.

  2. The prizes were kindly sponsored by Geographical magazine, Ordnance Survey,Philip's and Stanfords.

  3. The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geography. Formed in 1830, our Royal Charter of 1859 is for 'the advancement of geographical science'. Today, we deliver this objective by developing, supporting and promoting geographical research through scientific expeditions and fieldwork, education, and public engagement, while also providing geographical input to policy. We aim to foster an understanding and informed enjoyment of our world. We hold the world's largest private geographical collection and provide public access to it. We have a thriving Fellowship and membership and offer the professional accreditation 'Chartered Geographer'www.rgs.org

  4. To find out more about the Society's work with schools visitwww.rgs.org/schools

  5. To find out more about Geographical magazine visitwww.geographical.co.uk