Philosophical Victory for Izzy in Spivey Prize Essay

This essay competition, held back in October of this term, and named in honour of the distinguished classical scholar and Old Caterhamian Dr Nigel Spivey, invited any willing members of the Sixth Form to subject themselves to an unseen 90-minute general essay, the title taken from the classical corpus. 

In total 30 pupils elected to enter and were presented with a blank Word document and the choice of three questions: “Gossip never wholly dies away when many people voice her: gossip is in some ways even divine (Hesiod). Discuss.”, “The world is a world of tears and the burdens of mortality touch the heart (Virgil). Discuss.” or  “Is that which is holy loved by the gods because it is holy, or is it holy because it is loved by the gods? (Plato). Discuss.” 

Of the 30 essays, which approached the questions from a remarkable variety of angles, six were shortlisted. In a very close-run race, Izzy, (Upper Sixth), won the day and became the 2024 victrix of this exciting and demanding competition. Izzy’s essay (which, like all the others, was produced unseen in 90 minutes of examination conditions) answered the question on the nature of holiness and stood out for its coherent line of argument and depth of understanding. 

Becky Hunter 

Senior Enrichment Tutor