News

Essay Prize Winner

We are delighted to announce that Year 13 History student, Sasha R, has been awarded a commendation in the prestigious Julia Wood History Essay Prize, organised annually by St Hugh’s College, Oxford.

Sasha’s essay, To what extent was the Orthodox Church responsible for a lack of political and economic progression in Russia during the 19th and 20th Centuries?, was recognised for its depth of analysis and scholarly approach. The Julia Wood Prize is one of the leading national essay competitions for Sixth Form historians, attracting hundreds of entries from across the UK, making this a particularly notable achievement.

Sasha recently visited St Hugh’s College, Oxford to attend the prize ceremony. After exploring iconic Oxford sights such as the Ashmolean Museum (credited as the world’s first university museum), the Bodleian Library, and the colleges, he enjoyed an afternoon tea with Oxford tutors, students and fellow entrants.

Reflecting on the experience, Sasha said that having access to world-leading historians and politics professors, alongside recent graduates, provided invaluable insight and perspective. “Seeing their perspectives on different histories and world issues was eye-opening and something I will definitely carry with me into my studies” he noted.