Rex Nettleford Essay Prize (Oriel College) - Colonialism and its Legacies
Oriel College
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Want to tackle colonialism’s echoes and boost your university profile? Enter Oriel College’s Rex Nettleford Essay Prize: research independently, sharpen critical thinking, and showcase your ideas to academics. Open to Year 12 students - submit up to 2,500 words by 23 February 2026.
The Rex Nettleford Essay Prize is an annual essay competition run by Oriel College for students in Year 12 across the UK. The competition invites Year 12 candidates to write an original essay (up to 2,500 words) on themes related to colonialism and its legacies - historical, political, economic, social and cultural - from any disciplinary perspective (for example, History, English Literature, Economics).
The competition aims to encourage independent research and critical thinking and to bring able students into contact with higher education.
There are two equal prizes of £250 awarded each year; at least one prize is reserved for a pupil from one of Oriel’s designated link schools (non-selective state schools in specified areas). Prizes and highly commended awards will be presented at the annual Rex Nettleford Lecture, which will take place in May 2026.
Entrants must submit essays in PDF format with a completed entry form signed by a teacher certifying originality.
A three-part webinar series to introduce the competition and support essay-writing skills will run in January 2026; booking for these free sessions opens in December 2025. Judges will assess entries for grasp of issues, clarity of argument, critical use of sources, and originality.
23 Feb 2026
01 Jan 2026 – 31 Jan 2026
Webinar series (January 2026)
01 May 2026
Annual Rex Nettleford Lecture (May 2026)
Location
- Open to UK students in Year 12 (or equivalent) only.
- Entries from British schools overseas are not accepted.
- Students must address a topic that is not directly related to their A-level course.
- Essay must be the student’s original, unaided work and the entry form must be signed by a teacher certifying this.
- At least one prize will be awarded to a pupil from one of Oriel College’s link schools (non-selective state schools in Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Kensington & Chelsea, and Richmond upon Thames).
- Essays should be no more than 2,500 words; a bibliography must be included (does not count towards the word limit).
Free to enter. Webinar series to support entrants is free; booking opens December 2025.
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