Sixth Form students from Congleton High School and Eaton Bank Academy combined their knowledge of historical figures with their debating skills and enjoyed great success in the first ever Congleton Sixth Forms History Essay Competition.
The competition was organised by teachers from both high schools, and was kindly judged by Linda Hulse from Congleton History Society. Students were challenged to compose an essay campaigning for the historical figure they believe deserves a statue on the famous Fourth Plinth in London’s Trafalgar Square.
The winner of this inaugural competition was Year 12 Congleton High student, James Higginson, who made a compelling case for the computer pioneer, Alan Turing. Taking second place was Jasmine Goodman from Eaton Bank, who argued for a fourth plinth spot for the leading suffragist, Millicent Fawcett. Joint third place prizes went to Year 12 Congleton High students, Harley Forwell (who chose to write about Field Marshal Bernard 'Monty' Montgomery) and Matthew Robinson (who believed British military commander, Field Marshal William Slim, should have a place in Trafalgar Square).
The judge, Linda Hulse, praised the quality of the essays and the effort the students had put into their work. She visited Congleton High School to present the four winning students with their certificates and prizes, which were generously donated by Congleton History Society.
The two schools' History departments, represented at the presentation by Mr Fryer from Congleton High School and Mr Hickley from Eaton Bank Academy, very much look forward to working together on similar competitions and joint activities in the future.
