Outstanding success across Geography and the Humanities is being celebrated at Sutton Grammar School.

Thomas Dunbar in Year 13 has won the national ONS Data Challenge in Geography.  This prestigious competition celebrates innovative use of data to address real-world geographical issues, and Thomas’s achievement reflects his exceptional talent and dedication to the subject.

Thomas is an aspiring Geographer with a passion for understanding how places and communities function.  He hopes to study Geography further at university, and his success in this challenge highlights both his curiosity and commitment to his studies.  What makes this accomplishment particularly remarkable is that Thomas had only four days to prepare his entry.  Despite this, he produced a well-researched, thoughtful, and data-driven project that tackles a real-world issue with clarity and creativity.

Reflections from Thomas:

“My data project is one borne from personal experience.  While I am incredibly fortunate to live where I do, in the village of Ashtead, transport has always been an isolating factor. Meeting up with friends outside my community can only be done via inflexible train services, limiting my personal freedom. It was during my research that I also found how widespread this issue is across all sections of society- attending hospital appointments, shopping outside the village and many other experiences that comprise our everyday lives can be simply halted due to a lack of efficient public transport, an issue made infinitely worse for those with disabilities or the elderly.

After being introduced to the ONS competition by my Geography teacher, I immediately knew that this was something I could cover.

During my research and application of this challenge, I’ve learned just how integral big data is to managing our communities and that information gained from the Census is a vital tool in pinpointing areas of inequality and meeting the specific needs of society.”

Cambridge success in Geography and the Humanities for Oliver

Thomas’s achievement follows the success of Oliver Dunbar, also in Year 13, who last term was awarded Joint Second Prize in the Magdalene College Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition held by the University of Cambridge.  The judges were highly impressed with Oliver’s essay about the social and spatial costs of car dependency.  Oliver discussed the extent to which cars diminish the human qualities of urban life and his entry stood out amongst a highly competitive field.  Oliver was invited to a prize-giving celebration at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Congratulations to both Thomas and Oliver for their outstanding achievements.