National Essay Prizes

We were delighted to learn that our students have been recognised for their writing in two acclaimed, national essay-writing competitions.

Sixth Former Elizabeth has been awarded second place in the respected Trinity College Gould Prize for essays in English Literature this year on the topic: ‘Must literature reflect a desire to give meaning and order to our lives?’ The teaching fellows from Trinity said that they enjoyed reading her essay enormously.  “You tackled the question in an exciting and ambitious way. Your unflinching discussion of trauma was clear-sighted and compelling… you write with a strong critical sense of the ethical potential of literature.”  Elizabeth, who joined the Sixth Form last year to study English, History and Art & Design, received a cheque for her efforts and enjoyed lunch with other prizewinners at Trinity College. She plans to read English at University after South Hampstead.

Meanwhile, Year 11 student Eliza was runner-up in this year’s Connell Guide’s essay prize. Author Tim De Lisle, who judged the competition, was impressed “with the vitality and variety” of the entries, noting also that all this year’s prizewinners were female. Commenting on Eliza’s essay about the high-wire-walker Philippe Petit, he praised the “energy, pace and acumen” of her writing.

Congratulations to both girls on their achievements.