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School book prize

The Geological Society's A Level/Scottish Higher Prize

For many years the Society has awarded an annual book prize to the highest scoring candidate in Earth Science A level and Scottish Higher examinations in each of the examination boards offering the subject. Where the subject is also offered as a modular A level, two prizes are given.

In 1998 the prize was extended to cover the winners’ schools and teachers as well. Books – usually The Geology of England and Wales or The Geology of Scotland - are now given to the winning student and the library at their school, and the teacher is awarded a year’s free Fellowship of the Geological Society.

A record of prize winners from 1998 onwards are shown below. Note that at the time of writing (2007) there are just three examination boards that offer geology at this level. A list of abbreviations is given after the 1998 listing.

2006 

  • Adam Higginson of Eltham College, taught by Mr Paul McCartney (OCR)
  • Claire Loptson of Perth High School, taught by Mrs Margot Watt (SQA)
  • Hannah Finnigan of St Bede’s College (Manchester), taught by Mr Peter Loader (WJEC)

2005

  • Nicola Horsburgh of Dundee College, taught by Ms Sheila Bigham (SQA)
  • Orlando Browne of Radley College (Abingdon), taught by Dr C M Bedford  (OCR)
  • Emily Lunn of The King’s School (Canterbury), taught by Mr R Churcher (WJEC)

2004

No awards made

2003

  • David Al-Attar of Altrincham Grammar School, taught by Dr Kevin Stephen and (WJEC)
  • Daniel Neill of Bishop Stopford School, taught by Mr Paul Starr (SQA)
  • Iain Neill of Dingwall Academy, taught by Mr George Strachan (OCR)

2002

  • J Alexander Brearley of Bradford Grammar School, taught by Mr A G Smith (OCR)
  • Sophie Matthews of Solihull 6th Form College (WJEC).
  • Paul Blackhurst of Cumnock Academy, taught by Mr Roy Lee (SQA).

2001

  • Sarah E Smith of Cumnock Academy, taught by Mr Roy Lee (SQA)
  • Claire M O’Kane of Methodist College, Belfast, taught by Mrs Karen Parks (NICCEA)
  • Katy Jane Whear of Truro School, taught by Mr Ian Kenyon (Edexcel)
  • Laura M Hicks of John Leggott College, (Scunthorpe) taught by Dr Debbie Armstrong (OCR)
  • Julie Earnshaw of Greenhead College (Huddersfield), taught by Ms Alison Quarterman (AQA Modular syllabus)
  • Beadry E Kock of King’s School, Canterbury taught by Mr Dick Churcher (AQA Linear syllabus)
  • Hannah Lucy J Grant of Worcester 6th Form College, taught by Dr Phil Redfern (WJEC)

1999

  • Catherine J Pratt of Richmond Upon Thames College, taught by Mr Michael Wright (Edexcel)
  • Lorna K Gillies of Perth Academy. (SQA)
  • Richard D Fisher of William Hulme’s Grammar School (Manchester) taught by Mr H N Veevers (AQA Modular syllabus)
  • Carl S Elliott of Methodist College (Belfast), taught by Mrs Karen Parks (NICCEA)
  • Eleanor H John of St Martins Comprehensive School (WJEC).
  • Rebecca A Ramsden of Franklin College (Grimsby), taught by Ms Morag Duff; jointly with…
  • Miles N Tackett of Arnold School (Blackpool) taught by Mr Tom Brown and Mr Ian Winterflood (both OCR)

1998

  • Mr Ian McCandless of Coleraine Academical Institution, taught by Mr A S Lee (NICCEA)
  • Karen Phillips of Penglais Comprehensive School (Aberystwyth), taught by Mr Peter Hendry and Mr Brian Clissold (Edexcel)
  • Andrew Clifford of Sir Thomas Rich’s School (Gloucestershire), taught by Mr D F Green (OCR)
  • Eleanor Ruth Whiteman of Lewis Girls’ Comprehensive School (Ystrad Mynach), taught by Mr G Mills (WJEC)
  • James Fraser of Arbroath High School, taught by Mr Paul Ewing (SQA)
  • Nicola McLoughlin of William Howard School (Cumbria), taught by Mrs R A Sockett (NEAB Modular syllabus)
  • Robert J Duncan of Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, taught by Dr Kevin Stephen; jointly with…
  • Martin Rigby of Preston College, taught by Mr Michael Gosling (NEAB Linear syllabus)


Abbreviations of examination boards

AQA - Assessment & Qualifications Alliance
OCR - Oxford Cambridge & RSA Examinations
NICCEA - Northern Ireland Council for the curriculum examinations and assessment
NEAB - Northern Examinations & Assessment Board
SQA - Scottish qualifications authority
WJEC - Welsh Joint Education Committee