12 January 2023
2023 has got off to a particularly good start for Waishe in Year 10 and Phoebe in Year 7, with both receiving the exciting news that they had won awards in essay competitions.
Waishe won the Key Stage 4 category of the University of Exeter’s Politics Essay Competition. Her essay, which you can read here, tackled the question ‘Should the UK government introduce more referendums to make our political system more democratic?’ Waishe entered the competition because she is keen to broaden her experience of things to do with academia outside school and is interested in politics, which she is considering studying in the Sixth Form. Woldingham’s Head of Politics, Mrs Katharine Payne, said of Waishe’s essay: “I was particularly impressed by Waishe’s proactive approach, research skills, ability to compare different political systems, balanced analysis and precise supporting data. All skills that show she will make an impressive undergraduate."
Phoebe won a gold award in The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022, which she entered whilst in Year 6 at her previous school in Jersey. Established by the Royal Commonwealth Society in 1883, the competition is the world’s oldest international schools’ writing contest and in 2022 received more than 26,000 entries. The competition theme was 'Our Commonwealth', reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II's seven decades of service to the Commonwealth and Phoebe’s lovely essay, which you can read here, was written a short time before the Queen died. Phoebe will attend a prize-giving in Jersey in March, where her essay will be on display.