Senior Martindale Essay Competition Celebrates Outstanding Historical and Scientific Imagination
The Senior Martindale Essay Competition, open to all Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth students, once again showcased the creativity, curiosity and academic excellence of our sixth form students. This year’s competition invited participants to respond to the deceptively simple prompt: ‘What if…?’, encouraging students to explore alternative histories, scientific possibilities and imaginative scenarios through carefully researched and well-argued essays.
The competition attracted a number of impressive submissions, covering a wide range of fascinating topics. Students demonstrated not only originality of thought but also the ability to engage critically with complex historical, political and scientific questions. The judging panel was particularly impressed by the depth of research and quality of argument on display across all entries.
Congratulations go to our two runners-up, who each receive a £20 prize. Maryam earned recognition for her essay What if the Soviet Union never collapsed?, a thoughtful exploration of how modern geopolitics might have evolved under a very different global order. Jahanvi was awarded runner-up for What if Mars were truly colonisable using current engineering principles?, an ambitious investigation into the practical challenges and possibilities of human settlement on the Red Planet.
This year’s winner is Amelia, whose outstanding essay, What if George Washington never stepped down as President?, captivated the judges with its insightful analysis and engaging presentation. Amelia examined the potential consequences of a dramatically different path for early American democracy, producing a compelling piece of counterfactual history. Her submission was further enhanced by a well-produced and informative accompanying video, making her a deserving recipient of the £100 winner’s prize.
We warmly congratulate Amelia, Maryam and Jahanvi on their achievements. The winning and runner-up videos will be presented to students during a future Lower Sixth assembly, allowing the wider school community to enjoy and learn from their excellent work.
