History of Parliament A Level Schools Competition 2014

The History of Parliament’s schools competition enters its tenth year in 2014. For sixth formers, we would again like them to write essays on parliamentary or political history. As in last year’s competition, the closing date is after the summer holidays to give students who have just finished their GCSEs and are preparing for their A Levels a chance to enter as well. The winners will receive a money prize, and will be invited to Westminster with members of their family and teachers for the presentation of their prizes.

The prize will be awarded for the best essay on a subject of the candidate's own choice related to the parliamentary or political history of Britain and Ireland. Although candidates for essays covering the period before 1832 are encouraged to look at and use the material from the Research and Explore sections of this website, it is not required that they should do so. Essays should be of not less than two thousand words and not more than four thousand words. Essays should be typed, or clearly hand-written, on one side of the paper only.

Competition rules:


1. The winner of the competition will receive a prize of £100. The winner will be invited to visit the Palace of Westminster with up to two other members of their family, and a member of the school’s staff for the presentation of the prizes (the History will pay reasonable travel/accommodation expenses for the student and accompanying members of his/her family: we regret that we cannot pay the travel or accommodation expenses of any accompanying school staff). 

2. The competition is open to any student at a UK school or college, preparing to study or currently studying for AS or A2 levels (years 11, 12 and 13), who will not have passed his or her 19th birthday by 30th September 2014.

3. Essays should be submitted by a school, and no school should submit more than four essays.

4. Essays should be of not less than two thousand words and not more than four thousand words. Essays should be typed, or clearly hand-written, on one side of the paper only

5. All entries must have securely attached to them a sheet of paper stating:

a) The candidate’s name
b) The candidate’s school and its address, with a telephone or email contact for the school, and email contact for the candidate, if they have left school.
c) The candidate’s age at 30 September 2014
d) A declaration, signed by the teacher, saying that the work is all the candidate’s own.

(We regret that entries cannot be individually acknowledged, and will not be returned after the competition.)

6. Entries should be sent to:

History of Parliament competition
18 Bloomsbury Square
LONDON WC1A 2NS

Or to the competition email account:

Competitions@histparl.ac.uk

(If sending entries by email, please send one email per individual entry)

7. Entries must be received by 30 September 2014.

8. Judging will be by a panel appointed by the History of Parliament.  Their decision will be final, and no correspondence can be entered into.

9. For each competition there will be one winner, although the judges may make special commendations if they think fit.

For any queries, please contact us at Competitions@histparl.ac.uk