This year 15 pupils from Westbrook Hay entered into the prestigious Townsend-Warner History Prize, a national History competition for Prep Schools.
The Prize consists of two papers. Paper 1 has 100 questions requiring one-word or one-sentence answers from world history but with an emphasis on British History. Some are straightforward and many are more obscure. Over 1000 pupils take part from prep schools around the country and the top 250 candidates qualify for the second round. Paper 2 is in the form of five essay questions in two hours, offering candidates a wide choice so that they can write on what they know, as well as show analytical skill and historical imagination.
Last year, for the first time ever, two pupils from Westbrook Hay made it to the second round, eventually finishing 158th and 213th in the country, a superb achievement. However, this year Sam managed to repeat this feat and better his previous placing, climbing to 118th and setting a new Westbrook Hay record! It felt fitting that he should find out while on the recent History Trip to Rome, in the ancient amphitheatre of the Colosseum. 'Are you not entertained?!' Maximus Decimus Meridius famously cried. The judges certainly were by Sam's essay writing!