THE COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.
Political Education For Students (PEFS) engages, enthuses and educates young people in politics, government, citizenship and democracy. As a core component of that mission, we offer the opportunity for young people to shape and communicate their political ideas, conclusions and perspectives, whilst developing central academic skills.
All eight questions, of which students choose one, demand applied knowledge, analysis and evaluation, as well as a critical and persuasive form of communication.
There are two categories for entry into the 2026 competition, with the same questions available for both. The first, “Junior,” is for students at school, Sixth Form, college or in employment aged eighteen or under. The second category, “Senior,” is for anyone, including those attending and not attending university, aged 18 to 22. Entrants can enter from any country in either category.
There are first, second and third prizes available in each category.
THE ESSAY QUESTIONS
Entrants must address one of the questions in accordance with the requirements stated below.
- To what extent has the United States ceased to be a reliable strategic partner for fellow allies?
- "Authoritarian models of governance are increasingly better equipped than liberal democracies to navigate 21st-century crises." Discuss the extent to which political stability and economic agility should now be prioritised over individual liberties.
- "Developing nations should not be expected to sacrifice economic growth to solve a climate crisis they did not create." Is this a fair argument?
- To what extent has Britain succeeded in redefining its role in the international order post-Brexit?
- “The United Nations Security Council is an obsolete relic that does more to prevent peace than to secure it." Discuss.
- "Global politics will remain a cycle of violence as long as it is dictated by masculinist interpretations of 'security' and 'rationality’.” Evaluate this claim.
- How far is it accurate to claim that Elon Musk is more powerful than the British Prime Minister?
- "The rise of populism is not an irrational backlash, but a logical response to the failures of neoliberalism and globalisation since the end of the Cold War.” How far do you agree?
PRIZE INFORMATION
There are prizes for the best essays in each category.
In the “Junior” category, the winning entry will receive £500 to a nominated bank account. They will also receive a free full-day workshop for 60 students in their school. Second place will win £100, and a half-day workshop for 60 students in their school. Third place will win £100. All three winners will receive a free annual subscription to our Politics Classroom online community.
In the “Senior” category, the winning entry will receive £500 paid to a nominated bank account. They will also have a 45-minute consultation with Teresa Song, Director of Nova Scholars. Teresa is a former Morgan Stanley Risk Analyst and strategic consultant for high net worth individuals and companies, helping to formulate strategies and refine decision-making when it comes to high-value careers and decisions. Second place will win £100, and a 45-minute consultation with a recent Russell Group Politics graduate and Westminster staffer, to discuss politics-based careers, professional networking, and securing placements and internships. Third place will win £100. All three winners will receive a free annual subscription to our Politics Classroom online community.
Please note that the judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Photographic proof of identification, including date of birth, will be required by successful entrants.
Political Creative Writing Competition - WINNER
Maria, Francis Holland School (Sloane Square), London
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”