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The longlist of the Academy Excellence Awards has been announced today (28 March 2012). 163 students (aged 16 - 19) from 65 academies across England have successfully progressed to the next stage of the awards programme.

The Academy Excellence Awards recognise the outstanding academic achievements of Year 11, 12 & 13 students studying at academies in England. The Awards are now in their second year, following a successful pilot in 2011.

Over 250 academies registered to take part in the 2012 awards programme.  The students' essays - in thirteen categories: Art, Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Economics, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics, Politics and Team award - were read by a panel of subject specialists who filtered the hundreds of submissions into a longlist, announced today (28 March 2012).

The longlisted essays will now be submitted to the Academy Excellence Awards' panel of VIP judges, which includes Professor Alice Roberts, anatomist and broadcaster; Evan Davis, presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today and BBC Two's Dragon's Den; Susie Dent, leading lexicographer and resident dictionary expert on Channel 4's Countdown; Kate Humble, presenter on BBC Two's Springwatch; Jamie Cullum, pianist, singer-songwriter and jazz phenomenon; and Jon Sopel, co-presenter of the BBC News Channel.  The VIP judges will read the essays before meeting later this year to select their shortlist.

Christine Homer, from the Academy Excellence Awards team, said: "After a successful pilot in 2011, we're delighted to have had more essays entered by more academies in even more subjects this year.  Our filter panel of subject specialists have all reported being extremely impressed by the quality of the essays. Our VIP judges are going to have a tough job in deciding which of these really impressive, longlisted essays make the shortlist."

The shortlist, of five students per subject, will be announced on Friday 18 May 2012, and those students will attend an Inspiration Day and Awards Dinner at The University of Nottingham on 4 July.

Award-winners will receive up to £1,000 plus amazing "Money Can't Buy" prizes from top UK companies. In addition there will be a team award for students who produce the best group project.

The full longlist of academies and students is available on the Awards website.

The theme for the 2012 Academy Excellence Awards is 'Well Being and Quality of Life'.  The essay questions were set by experts at The University of Nottingham. These were set to stretch and challenge students, requiring them to demonstrate their creativity and imagination and giving them a taste of the sort of lateral thinking required at higher education level.

The Awards aim to provide a flagship initiative for the whole academies movement and are backed by an impressive steering group including Anthony McClaran, chief executive of QAA; Kate Hobhouse, chairman of Fortnum and Mason; Rusty Elvidge, managing director of Credit Suisse; and Barbara Harrison, independent education advisor and former chief executive of the Girls Day School Trust.

For more information, visit www.academyexcellenceawards.co.uk. 

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For press enquires contact Sarah Savage or Alex Bevis at Colman Getty

020 7631 2666 or sarahsavage@colmangetty.co.uk /alex@colmangetty.co.uk

Notes to Editors:

• The Awards are open to students in Y11, 12 & 13 studying at academies in England.
• Academy Principals are invited to nominate one different student per subject category (Art, Biology, Chemistry, Design & Technology, Economics, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Physics and Politics) and one group for the group category.
• Nominated students will be required to answer an essay question set by subject specialists at The University of Nottingham.
• The shortlisted students in each category will be invited to attend an Inspiration Day and Awards Dinner at The University of Nottingham on 4 July, where the winners will be announced
• The 2011/12 Academy Excellence Awards follow a successful pilot year in 2010/2011.
• The Awards steering group members are: Anthony McClaran, Former chief executive of UCAS and now QAA; Barbara Harrison, Independent education advisor and former chief executive of the Girls Day School Trust; Christine Homer, Trustee of David Ross Foundation; David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham; David Ross founder of the David Ross Foundation; Kate Hobhouse, Chairman of Fortnum and Mason; Mark Bolland, Mark Bolland PR; Rusty Elvidge, Managing director of Credit Suisse and Tim Hastie-Smith, National director of Scripture Union.
• The Academy Excellence Awards are pleased to partner in association with The University of Nottingham.
• The Academy Excellence Awards are sponsored by the David Ross Foundation
• The VIP Judges for 2012 are: Sandy Nairne, Director of the National Portrait Gallery; Professor Alice Roberts, anatomist and broadcaster; Dr Chris Smith, radio presenter and scientist; Emily Cummins, inventor; Evan Davis, presenter on BBC Radio 4's Today and BBC Two's Dragon's Den; Susie Dent, leading lexicographer and resident dictionary expert on Channel 4's Countdown; Kate Humble, presenter on BBC Two's Springwatch; Dr Sam Willis, maritime historian, author and archaeologist; Matt Parker, stand-up comedian whose shows blend maths, science and comedy; Jamie Cullum, pianist, singer-songwriter and jazz phenomenon; Dr Lucie Green, scientist and astronomer; Jon Sopel, co-presenter of the BBC News Channel