People picking up litter on a beach on a sunny day. In focus is a person reaching for a plastic bottle.

2024 competition  

The 2024 School Essay Competition, organised in partnership with the Financial Times, invited students to answer the following question: 

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

Our 2024 results 

Winner

Santiago Souto, Hastings School, Madrid

View the winning essay published on FT.com

Highly Commended

Maariyah Alli, Bancroft's School, Woodford Green, Essex

Felix Gibbons, Exeter School

Jessica Harrison, Esher Sixth Form College

Nafeesah Kamal, The Grey Coat Hospital School, London

Megan Lam, Diocesan Girls' School, Hong Kong

Eden McCartney, The Grey Coat Hospital School, London

Desola Omonijo, Downe House School, West Berkshire

Alice Osborne, Eastbourne College

Lara Ricard, Sydenham High School

Nathan Smith, Chellaston Academy, Derby

Sara Urdaneta, The Marlborough Science Academy, St Albans

William Vinecombe, Lord Wandsworth College, Hampshire

Calla Whitby, Cokethorpe School, Oxfordshire

Roni Xie, Guildford High School

 

Entrants were asked to include no more than ten key ideas. They had to justify their choices. Accompanying information from the FT and other sources had to be used.

This resource was provided as a useful starting point. Carbon counting: how much do your lifestyle choices cost the planet? (ft.com)

The judges were looking for:

  • A clear essay or ArcGIS StoryMap that was well-evidenced and reached a clear conclusion.
  • Submissions that did not exceed 1,000 words (excluding references).
  • Referenced sources of information and data.
  • Submissions that were the entrant’s own work and relevant to the question and guidance.

The Society runs this competition in partnership with the Financial Times  as part of its education programme to support geography teachers and their pupils. The competition is open to all schools and advertised through our wide networks. Submissions are judged without seeing the entrants’ details.