The CJ Littlejohns Health Prize

 

The CJ Littlejohns Medical Prize was established in 2013 to support students applying for medical school. In 2024 the prize was expanded to all pupils in years 12 and 13 who are considering a health related university course . This is interpreted as any scientific or vocational course linked to health care.  The annual prize will now be called  the CJ Littlejohns Health Prize. The annual prize will be awarded on the basis of an essay on a health related issue .

​

Each year a subject will be chosen that is attracting a lot of attention in the news. For 2025 the essay is on the subject of the right of patients with terminal illnesses and in great distress to end their lives with dignity. This is a highly controversial issue and there are strong moral and legal arguments for and against.  In November MPs in Parliament voted in favour of a bill to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. You can find more information here https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-47158287.

 

The essay should address the question - what do you think should be in the new law to create safeguards to protect vulnerable people. The word limit is 2500 words. The prize attracts a financial component of £250. Please submit your essay before 18th April 2025 . Normally essays should be written by individual pupils but if you would like to submit as a group that is acceptable. No more than 6 pupils should be in a group and you will need to explain the contribution of each student. A group submission will share the prize money ,  All essays will be posted on the prize website.

​

​

​

​

The 2025 Peter Littlejohns Society prize 

​

2024 was the 25 year anniversary of the establishment of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) https://www.nice.org.uk/ . The Institute seeks to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and fairness of health care through the application of evidence in an ethical manner. It’s Founding Clinical and Public Health Director was Professor Peter Littlejohns who was a pupil at Gowerton Boys School from 1966 to 1973. In recognition of the role that the Institute has had in supporting fairness in health care a new annual prize - the Peter Littlejohns Society Prize has been established. This will  be awarded on the basis of an essay on the subject of “Science, Art and Society”.

 

Each year a subject will be chosen on the basis of an issue that is dominating the news relating to science, technology and society. For 2025 the issue is on safeguarding vulnerable people on the internet. More than any scientific innovation the internet and access to it via mobile phones has revolutionised how virtually everybody on the planet can communicate with everyone else. The potential for good is enormous but also there is the potential for unscrupulous people to  manipulate the system and to spread false information . Some people feel that it is now too late to put in safeguards and they would not work anyway.   The essay should be responding to the question –  Given that

government has responsibility/accountability to protect and safeguard vulnerable children/people, how do you think that governments and people should act to ensure that the internet is safe for everyone to use ? The word limit is 2500 words. The prize attracts a financial component of £250. Please submit before 18th April 2025

 

Normally essays should be  written by individual pupils but if you would like to submit as a group that is acceptable. No more than 6 pupils should be in a group and you will need to explain the contribution of each student.  A group submission will share the prize money

​

​

​

​