Young Geographer of the Year 2024 announced
The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) recognises the outstanding work of the next generation of geographers through its Young Geographer of the Year competition. An international award with categories spanning the primary years to A Level, the competition encourages young people to think creatively and analytically about geographical themes.
The theme for 2024 was Choose geography, with pupils aged from seven to 18 invited to create striking and informative posters that demonstrate the relevance of geography and how studying it can help you understand the world we live in and the global challenges we face as a society.
With schools hosting their own heats and submitting only their winners, the 1,000 entries received by the Society represented just a fraction of the overall number of participating students.
The judges were looking for creative and engaging posters that highlighted the wide range of jobs that geographers do and how geographers make a difference. They selected 16 young people for recognition, with two winners and two highly commended entries selected for each age category.
The category winners are:
KS2 (7-11 years):
Aarav Kumar, Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Bella Stewart, Walhampton School, Lymington
KS3 (11-14 years)
Aksh Rawal, Wilson's School, Wallington
Libby Hudson, Putney High School, London
KS4 (14-16 years)
Thomas Hurley, Diss High School, Norfolk
Audrey King, Downe House, Berkshire
A Level or equivalent (16-18 years)
Zoe Parker, Rugby High School, Warwickshire
Myrto Kasselaki, Berlin Metropolitan School, Germany
Professor Joe Smith, Director of the Society said: “Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part in the competition. I am always impressed by the creativity on show in the entries to Young Geographer of the Year, and it is no different this year.
"The students have clearly demonstrated how geographical skills and thinking are vital for addressing global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, and they give me hope that the next generation of geographers is well equipped to drive forward the changes needed to ensure a sustainable future for us all.”
The Rex Walford Award, which runs alongside Young Geographer of the Year, recognises teachers currently completing their teacher training or who have just started their careers. They were asked to produce an innovative and engaging scheme of work, covering at least three lessons, that encouraged their students to create their own Choose geography poster and enter the Young Geographer of the Year competition.
The 2024 Rex Walford Award winner is Beatrice Spicer from Orleans Park School in Twickenham.
Alan Parkinson, the Society’s Vice President for Education said: “Highly skilled and enthusiastic geography teachers are vital for developing the geographical knowledge and understanding of young people.
"Beatrice’s scheme of work demonstrated how inspiring geography lessons can be and how her students are being well prepared for the future.”
The 2024 Young Geographers of the Year and Rex Walford Award winner were awarded their certificates by Alan Parkinson at a ceremony held at the Society on Friday 29 November.
The Young Geographer of the Year competition and the Rex Walford Award is run by the Society in conjunction with Geographical magazine and is kindly supported by Esri UK, Ordnance Survey and Philip’s Atlases.
ENDS
Notes to editors
For further media enquiries and interview requests, please contact Caitlin Watson, the Society’s Press Officer, at press@rgs.org or +44 (0)778 605 8823.
Images taken at the awards ceremony of the winning and highly commended pupils, and Rex Walford Award winner are available on request.
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 through developing, supporting and promoting geographical research, expeditions and fieldwork, education, public engagement, and geography 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
Young Geographer of the Year is run by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and Geographical magazine. The competition began in 2000 and has become a regular feature on many schools' calendars. The competition is open to young geographers throughout the UK and across the world under the age of 19 years. The prizes were kindly sponsored by Esri UK, Ordnance Survey and Philip’s.
The full list of winners and highly commended pupils, along with their entries to Young Geographer of the Year 2024 can be viewed at
The category winners are:
Winners KS2 (7-11 years):
Aarav Kumar, Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Bella Stewart, Walhampton School, Lymington
Winners KS3 (11-14 years):
Aksh Rawal, Wilson's School, London
Libby Hudson, Putney High School, London
Winners KS4 (14-16 years):
Thomas Hurley, Diss High School, Norfolk
Audrey King, Downe House, Berkshire
Winners A Level or equivalent (16-18 years):
Zoe Parker, Rugby High School, Warwickshire
Myrto Kasselaki, Berlin Metropolitan School, Germany
The highly commended in each category are:
Highly commended KS2 (7-11 years):
Labiqa Babar, John Burns Primary School, London
Aradhree Bardhan, Lady Eleanor Holles Junior School, Hampton
Highly commended KS3 (11-14 years):
William Purnell, St Edward's Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School, Windsor
Esme Tse, Colfe's School, London
Highly commendedKS4 (14-16 years):
Zachary Draper, Alderman White School, Nottingham
Imogen Lewis, Haberdashers' Monmouth School, Monmouth
Highly commended A Level or equivalent (16-18 years):
Stephanie Agor, Invicta Grammar School, Maidstone
Rachel Balsom, The British School in Tokyo, Japan
The 2024 Rex Walford Award winner is Beatrice Spicer from Orleans Park School in Twickenham.