The Mary Renault Classical Reception Essay Competition is a highly prestigious test of high-level academic research, critical thinking and interdisciplinary analysis.

Held each year by St Hugh's College, Oxford, it attracts entries from sixth formers across the country, each submitting an essay of between 2000-4000 words on any topic relating to the reception or influence of classical antiquity in any period of history, up to and including the present day.

Congratulations to Harrow's Harry Benbow who won joint first place with his essay on Jean-Paul Sartre’s interpretation of the Greek dramatic text, the Oresteia.