2024 competitions for schools open for entries

Each year the Society organises competitions for pupils and teachers to recognise, reward and celebrate young people and educators who have a passion for geography. 

The Young Geographer of the Year and School Essay Competition are designed to get students thinking beyond the boundaries of the curriculum and engaged with the opportunities geography offers. For trainee and early-career teachers with innovative ideas to engage pupils, the Rex Walford Award celebrates emerging talent in educational resource writing. 

This year’s competitions are now open, and the entry deadline for all three is 5.00pm on Friday 4 October. 

Keep reading to find out more or visit our competitions webpage.

  
Young Geographer of the Year 

Our Young Geographer of the Year competition recognises the outstanding work of the next generation of geographers. This year’s theme is Choose geography, which encourages pupils to use their creativity to showcase the advantages of studying geography, the subject’s relevance to today’s changing world, and the opportunities available to geographers in the world of work.

Students are being asked to create eye-catching and inspiring posters that promote the value of choosing geography at school, as further study, or in the workplace, linking geographical skills to real people and jobs that make a difference.

There are four categories: KS2 (pupils aged 7-11), KS3 (pupils aged 11-14), KS4 or GCSE equivalent (pupils aged 14-16), and KS5 or A Level equivalent (pupils aged 16-18). All entries must adhere to the entry criteria for the relevant age category.

The Young Geographer of the Year competition is run by the Society in conjunction with Geographical magazine and is kindly supported by Esri UK, Ordnance Survey and Philip’s Atlases.  

Rex Walford Award

The Rex Walford Award sits alongside the Young Geographer of the Year competition. Trainee and early-career teachers are being asked to submit a scheme of work and resources that use innovative and effective approaches to engaging pupils with the Young Geographer of the Year theme, Choose geography. 

School Essay Competition

Our School Essay Competition, run in conjunction with the Financial Times, asks A Level or equivalent geography students to enter a well-evidenced essay of 1,000 words answering the following question:

“Drawing on information from your daily life, what sustainability action points would you prioritise?”

Entrants should include no more than 10 key ideas in their essays and justify their choices. Students can use information from the Financial Times, including the resource Carbon counting: how much do your lifestyle choices cost the planet?, and other sources to inform their essays.