Diss High School student, Thomas Hurley, wins Key Stage 4 category of the Young Geographer of the Year awards

A teenager admitted he was blown away after becoming one of a handful of winners in an international competition.

Thomas Hurley, a student at Diss High School, won the Key Stage 4 category of the Young Geographer of the Year awards.

The 15-year-old said: “You do not normally expect to win these kind of competitions, so, when I found out, I was blown away and so excited. I have loved geography for ages, but this award felt like I proved it.”

Run by the Royal Geographical Society, entrants had to create posters to demonstrate the relevance of geography and how studying it can help people understand the world we live in and the global challenges we face as a society.

“With my poster, I explained how geography has truly inspired me, and all the life skills, opportunities and career paths which are extremely useful,” he said.

“I also mentioned my own personal experiences, having been to Mexico, Greece and the Lake District. Those places reminded me of what geography is about and why I love it. Geography is everywhere.”

Each school hosted their own heats and submitted their winners, with 1,000 entries received by the society.

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.

Society director Professor Joe Smith said: “Congratulations to the winners and everyone who took part.

“I am always impressed by the creativity on show for Young Geographer of the Year, and it is no different this year.

“They give me hope that the next generation of geographers are well equipped to drive forward the changes needed to ensure a sustainable future for us all.”