Offering opportunities to express ideas and passion.

PRIZE: £250 for Maria and a free workshop for her school.

Story Title: The Crime of Boiling Water

My story is a political satire, encapsulating a strange narrative of kettles being illegal in the UK. Following the PM’s announcement to remove kettles, the story follows a married couple who own a kettle. After a STEAM officer knocks on their door and sees a man with a cup of tea, he questions how he made it. Upon discovering it was done with a kettle, the STEAM office arrests the man, Rob. 

A few days later, Rob’s wife Jemma comes across a pressure group RightsforKettles, who are planning a protest outside of Number 10. Meanwhile, during PMQs the Opposition criticises the government for still not doing enough to tackle the rise of kettles. The closing section of the story suggests the irony of representative democracy – although the public voted to remove kettles, there are hundreds protesting outside of Number 10. 

The idea stemmed from real-life events relating to immigration. I would regularly encounter content of ICE on social media and the news. Hearing stories like the widow of a man killed in ICE facility receiving a letter approving his path to citizenship made me realise these issues in the US were escalating. I wanted to be able to tell a story in UK politics, presenting the fact that we are all humans, regardless of someone’s nationality. I wanted to be able to communicate this directly, through kettles, to portray the excessive populism, of an ‘us vs them’ narrative.

Studying Politics A level has allowed me to question the society we are in, by keeping up with current affairs. For instance, the scene in the story about PMQs was based on the repeated debates I watched online, and how I found the parties were mostly criticising each other, not working together to make a positive impact.

Thinking outside the box has been an incredibly eye-opening experience for me. The irony of tea being a part of British culture made the story more relevant to today. I also loved playing with real news headlines, exploring various perspectives. For instance, the headline written: Court backs ruling that UK unlawfully detained Tamils on Diego Garcia by the Guardian was changed to: Court backs ruling that the UK unlawfully detained kettle-owners in Hammersmith.

I want to study Politics and IR at university, so I will save this money to help join certain programmes and events. I am also a member of Westminster Youth Council so can help the council with campaigning, and various resources. 

This experience has allowed me to understand the importance of accountability in politics today. I became more aware with the rise of extremism in the UK and the portrayal of immigration in the media. This made me more engaged in politics, allowing me gain deep insight into the stark divide of the right and left.  

“This competition taught me the best work comes from the heart. Little did I know by listening, looking and most importantly feeling the world around me would spark such a narrative. The best ideas come at unexpected times, through hidden intent, personal experience and emotion”

PRIZE: £500 for Brooklyn and a free online seminar for her school.

Essay Submitted: 'Democracy as a form of government is overrated'. How far do you agree?

My essay examined the internal systems of democracy that enable authoritarian incumbents to rise to power and consolidate their power. I argued that such leaders can exploit democracy’s underlying assumptions to entrench their rule and shift the system toward competitive authoritarianism under the guise of democracy. I concluded that while democracy is inherently flawed through its very structure and assumptions, it remains the most effective medium for social change. It should not, therefore, be discarded for its imperfections, but rather strengthened and adapted when faced with authoritarian threats. 

I recently attended the Harvard Pre-College Program, where I chose a politics course (GOVT P-16110). Seeing as political education is largely absent in Zimbabwean schools, I saw the competition as a way to explore the subject further and test how much I had really learned (and remembered) from the program. The research process widened my political understanding, as it forced me to consider the varying degrees of democracy as well as the assumptions it makes as a system (feeding into its weaknesses).

Additionally, the essay writing process itself sharpened my clarity and evaluative skills, skills that are central to my current A Level subjects. I feel absolutely overjoyed! However, I feel even more grateful towards my teachers who constantly push me to raise the level and overall clarity of my writing. I feel like this award is just as much a reflection of their encouragement as well as my own work. 

This year, I’m focusing on my A-level examinations, with the long-term goal of attending a competitive university in the United States. I’d like to put some of the prize money towards my ongoing community service engagements, namely the old age home S.O.D.A (Society for the Destitute Aged) is going towards the purchase of seedlings towards their garden project (having raised money for irrigation installation last year), aiding their efforts to provide a sustainable food source for residents and the local community. A proportion of the rest will be directed towards the CommonApp application fees as a way to ease the pressure on my parents.

"Essay competitions like this one, especially with the additional prize of webinars for one’s school, are such valuable opportunities. In a time of rising populism and deepening division, political education is more vital than ever. This competition gave me the chance to go beyond the syllabus, with the freedom to connect academic ideas to Zimbabwe’s local context, and deepen my understanding of democracy.”

Brooklyn is a remarkable individual: impressively capable, remarkably organised, and fiercely competitive. Though she may come across as quietly reserved, the old saying "still waters run deep" perfectly captures her essence. Beneath her calm exterior lies an extraordinary talent for analysing vast amounts of information. Her ability to draw connections from historical patterns to understand today's world—and to anticipate where the future might lead—is truly outstanding, ranking among the finest I have encountered in my teaching career.

Throughout her schooling career, Brooklyn has been a dedicated member of both the Debate and Model United Nations societies. Combined with her academic focus on Economics and History, this involvement has enabled her to approach politics with a strong grasp of the fundamental forces shaping political discourse. As Secretary General of the Model United Nations, her deep understanding of diverse political systems and their historical evolution has empowered her to lead with insight and sophistication, fostering meaningful debate and inspiring those around her to think critically about global affairs.

This competition has given Brooklyn the space to develop her interest in politics in a broader way than a curriculum would allow for. 

PRIZE: £100 for Luke

Essay Submitted: Which individual of the twenty-first century has done the most to advance human rights?

I honed in on an Indian activist, Kailash Satyarthi. Throughout, I explored the various concerning issues surrounding the lack of protection for children’s rights, his inspiring actions towards extending these rights, and I also acknowledged other individuals who have also inspired change. I argued that his sheer determination, paired with his growing impact in ensuring further protection to vulnerable children, made him a clear candidate to have done the most to extend human rights. I concluded that he is an inspiration to a modern society, and millions of kids are enjoying a freer, more liberated childhood thanks to him.

I chose to enter this competition because I saw it as an amazing opportunity to expand on the interests I have gained through my existing political studies. This competition provided me with a challenge which I could overcome, gaining not just valuable experience but also expanding on my political knowledge. Through the process of constructing my essay, I learnt many new things about human rights, widening my perspective of the modern political world and the various issues many are fighting to change.

Being a runner-up in this amazing competition has not just brought me sheer joy, but it has also brought me more confidence in my aptitude, inspiring me to set new, higher targets for my future studies. Not only am I proud of myself, but I also cannot overemphasise my gratitude to my A-Level teachers for inspiring me and shaping the skills I applied in this competition, and to PEFS for providing me with this excellent opportunity.

This year, my focal point is studying and preparing for my A-levels, of which I hope to gain substantial grades to take me to a top law school in London. I intend to spend the money to further my preparation for law school, whether that be through funding trips to law institutions and debates, funding online law courses, funding books which will expand my knowledge surrounding legal studies, or entering another competition like this!

"The opportunity presented through this competition is something which only offers itself occasionally, which makes it such a valuable, unprecedented experience for those wishing to inspire themselves and expand their political understanding. For me, this competition allowed me to expand my political knowledge beyond my political studies and inspired me to take further steps into expanding my political understanding beyond just the syllabus. This competition is an opportunity which should be grasped by every aspiring political student wishing to widen their political scope outside the confines of a textbook”

PRIZE: £100 for Hannah.

Essay Submitted: To what extent has the 2024 US Presidential Election redefined American Politics?

The fundamental argument in my essay is that the 2024 election was not a redefinition, but rather part of a global shift to the right and an increase in issue-based voting in the USA.

I entered the competition after my teacher recommended it to me! Taking part allowed me to look into American politics in more depth, specifically the 2024 election, which I followed closely during the election cycle. In terms of academic skills, this competition allowed me to work on my research skills and how to integrate sources into my writing more naturally.

I’m so surprised and thrilled to be a runner-up; it has boosted my confidence. My next step is to study international human rights law.

"I’m really shocked and grateful about being a runner-up. I really didn’t expect to be at all. I wouldn’t have been able to enter this competition without the constant support of my Politics teacher, Ali".

PRIZE: £100 for Sofia.

Essay Submitted: 'The United States is a force for good in the world'. Discuss.

My essay explored whether the United States can be seen as a “force for good.” It concluded that while it often advances humanitarian and technological progress, its self-interested actions in war, trade, and climate policy frequently undermine this. I entered this essay competition after hearing about it from my teacher and decided to challenge my critical thinking skills while delving deeper into this topic. Participating has strengthened my understanding of international relations and increased my confidence in essay writing. I’m proud to be a runner-up as it’s inspiring to see my work recognised! I plan to study Politics and International Relations at university.

"This competition encouraged me to explore political issues beyond my A Level syllabus and to think on a global scale. It inspired me to connect what I’ve learnt in class to my own interests and what I’ve learned from following the news and current events. Being recognised has inspired me to keep expanding my understanding of politics, and I would encourage anyone to try!"