Flag designed by Ysgol Treffynnon student makes expedition to Antarctica

A flag designed by an Ysgol Treffynnon student has been chosen to make an expedition to Antarctica with polar researchers.

The UK Polar Network invites schools to submit entries since Antarctica does not officially have a flag, whilst the anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty, signed sixty-one years ago by twelve countries, is marked to ensure the Antarctic is protected for future generations.

Rebecca Liggett, Geography teacher at the school, decided to set a challenge for her year 7 students to design the flag and therefore participate as one of the school entries.

The brief was that it should stand out against the Antarctic wilderness and represent the continent which might have included the wildlife, landscape and history.   

Over thirty students submitted an entry for the competition and GCSE Geography students chose Neve Richards’ design as the winner. 

Neve said: “I am surprised my entry got chosen but when I saw the photo of it on Antarctica it made me feel really happy and proud.”

Miss Liggett said: “I am really impressed with the creativity and imagination year 7 students have used to conjure up some very distinctive flags.

“They have recognised key landmarks and wildlife that they believe are important to preserve for future generations to see.

“The brief asked for the flags to stand out against the Antarctic wilderness and the GCSE students felt Neve’s flag did just that!

“All the year 7 students who entered should be proud of the effort they made.

“Neve’s flag is just beginning its journey in the Southern hemisphere – we are looking forward to hearing where it will venture to next.”

Ysgol Treffynnon was only one of four schools in Wales to take part in the competition which draws entries from across the UK, a winner from each taken on the expedition.  

The design project links to work the pupils have been doing this term which looks at ways of managing different landscapes to be sustainable for the future, including Antarctica.

The flags have been distributed between the polar researchers who are now starting their expedition south for the Antarctic summer.

Neve’s flag has so far reached South Georgia Island, which is known as the ‘Gateway to Antarctica’.

This year, due to COVID-19, the journey has taken longer to ensure all precautions were taken to prevent the pandemic reaching Antarctica.