Hampton’s Sixth Form linguists have excelled in a series of prestigious national essay competitions, achieving remarkable success and underlining the School’s strength in Modern Languages.
Participation in such challenges enables Hamptonians to extend their studies beyond the curriculum, hone vital research and time-management skills, and explore degree-level topics. By engaging with global issues through modern languages, pupils showcase both intellectual flair and a passion for cultural understanding.
Gabriel Kelly was awarded first place in the Durham University French Creative Writing Competition on the theme of La Justice, while Noah Kelly secured a well-deserved second place in the same competition – a double success that highlighted both originality of thought and linguistic precision.
Meanwhile, Hamptonians achieved an extraordinary sweep of awards in the Cambridge Language Collective Senior French Politics and Society Competition. Noah secured first place, while Jason David-West and Arun Datta both attained second place. A trio of Hamptonians – Raphael Cawthra, Henry Fry, and Amar Gill – also excelled, each winning third place.
These outstanding achievements not only reflect the commitment and talent of our Sixth Form linguists but also Hampton’s thriving culture of academic exploration and intellectual curiosity at the highest level.
Head of French, Mr Marc Boardman, praised their achievements:
Pushing themselves far beyond the curriculum, senior linguists researched widely around their topic and produced highly analytical and perceptive responses, entirely in French. Aside from their commendations, the pupils have demonstrated that learning a language isn’t just about grammar or vocabulary — it’s about curiosity, empathy, and understanding the world through a different lens. They have shown how language opens doors to culture, ideas, and perspectives far beyond the classroom.
