IEF Essay Writing Competition

Ellen receiving her prize from competition sponsor Janet Veale and judges writer Jan Carson and Fighting Words NI Director Hilary Copeland.

The Competition was sponsored by Janet Veale to honour the memory of Kay Rogers, a friend and supporter of Integrated Education.  The competition was open to students in year 11- 14 inclusive, in the 2024/25 Academic year.

Each essay was to be less than 2,000 words and on the question: The government has had a legal requirement to encourage and facilitate Integrated Education since 1989. To what extent has this requirement been fulfilled?

The competition had two experienced and esteemed judges: writer Jan Carson and Fighting Words NI Director Hilary Copeland.  The IEF want to thank both judges for giving of their time to read and consider each entry with such diligence and care.

Hilary Copeland commented on the competition:

‘We were delighted to be involved judging the inaugural IEF Essay Writing Competition.  The students were set a complex question to really engage and get them thinking about the role of the government to encourage and facilitate Integrated Education.  We were very impressed by the quality of writing, the evident critical thinking and the engagement with some very complex legislative and societal issues.  Congratulations to all three worthy winners on three extremely well researched, cohesive essays.’

Jan Carson added:

‘Well done to all three winners on having created such unique essays.  Ellen is a worthy winner having composed a very comprehensive, well-researched essay that answers the question and is also really well-written on a sentence by sentence basis. Ellen includes a fulsome summary of the legal changes, with good knowledge of other factors not directly related to legislation but relevant.

I would also like to congratulate both runners-up on their impressive entries.  Emily brought in relevant social policy to bolster her arguments.  Naida used personal anecdotes to great effect, giving her essay a punchy style of debate.

We would encourage all three students to continue to use their creative voice, to foster and hone those talents.  Both Hilary and I thank you for making our job as judges so enjoyable.’

Winner: Ellen from Shimna IC.

Runner-Up: Emily from IC Dungannon.

Jan Carson, Janet Veale, Runner-up Emily and Hilary Copeland.

Runner-up: Naida Bishop from Ulidia IC.

Janet Veale, Runner-up Naida, Jan Carson and Hilary Copeland.