Sir Ron Cooke, an eminent physical geographer and former President of the Society, kindly supports an award for A Level students.
The award recognises students鈥� work towards the independent investigation, also known as the NEA. The first Ron Cooke Award was presented to a student who completed an NEA for the 2018 examinations, at our medals and awards ceremony in 2019.
Ron Cooke Award 2026
Student鈥檚 outstanding NEAs must be submitted by their teacher and we aim to celebrate students鈥� work which has engaged them with new ideas, provided opportunities for innovation and/or demonstrates their personal interest in geography.
Entries must be a fully marked NEA; please submit a copy of the NEA (this does not need to show annotations) plus the supporting form.
We are delighted that the examination boards are supportive of this award and will also be encouraging their centres to submit outstanding scripts for consideration.
Entries for the 2026 Ron Cooke Award are now closed. Late entries will not be accepted.
The winner of the Ron Cooke Award will be notified before 31 May 2026.
Past winners
Ron Cooke Award 2025
The winner of the Sir Ron Cooke Award for 2025 was Claudia Acker for the best A Level independent investigation (NEA) titled: 鈥楾o what extent does the carbon content of trees differ between urban woodlands in Highgate Wood, London, and rural woodlands in Parnholt Wood, Hampshire?鈥�.
Ron Cooke Award 2024
The winner of the Sir Ron Cooke Award for 2024 was Ella Herbert from Langley Park School for Boys for the best A Level independent investigation (NEA) titled: 鈥楾o what extent are the key players impacting the development of Cambers sand dunes鈥�.
Ron Cooke Award 2023
The winner of the 2023 Ron Cooke Award was Elysia Sanders from Lady Eleanor Holles School for the best A Level independent investigation (NEA) titled: 鈥楬ow have glacial and physical post-glacial processes caused variation in the landscape of the Troutbeck Valley鈥�.
Ron Cooke Award 2022
The winner of the 2022 Ron Cooke Award was Joelle D鈥橫ello from Trinity School for for the best A Level independent investigation (NEA) titled: 鈥淭hrough economic status, the environment, accessibility, and regeneration, how does quality of living vary between a rural and urban area?鈥�
Ron Cooke Award 2021
The winner of the 2021 Ron Cooke Award was Hollie Daw from Queen Mary's College for the best A Level independent investigation (NEA) titled: "An examination of the factors affecting infiltration rate at Ashford Hill National Nature Reserve."
Find out more about our medals and awards.