Peter Littlejohns
Health and Society Prize
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The 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 exploring Science, the Humanities and Society.
It is open to all pupils in the UK.
The pupil can choose any issue that links science, the humanities and society. The word limit is 2500 words. The prize attracts a financial component of £250. Please submit before 1st April 2027
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
The 2026 prize was awarded to Preksha Agarwal and Jack Halliday and Ben Howell
Photos and bios of Jack and Tom to follow
"Hello! My name is Preksha Agarwal.
I am currently a Year 13 student at Newstead Wood School for Girls, studying Biology, Chemistry, and Maths. I aspire to study medicine. I have always been intrigued with medicine, and it started with a fascination of how the brain works when I first heard about the real-world case of Peter Porco.
Despite severe injuries caused by 12 axe blows on his head with part of it missing, he unconsciously carried out daily routines such as going to the kitchen to make lunch. Without realising, he managed to perform chores: he loaded the dishwasher, packed his lunch, and went to get the newspaper outside. He even used a key to unlock the front door when he couldn't get in, not appearing to realize the extent of his injuries
Eventually, his body gave up and he collapsed. Cases like this made me more curious about how different parts of the brain control behaviour, and how this can link to wider concerns in both healthcare and the justice system.
Throughout my studies, I have explored these interests by taking part in various academic competitions, particularly those focused on public health and real-world medical challenges.
I chose to write my essay on obesity after current Mounjaro rollouts, because I found it interesting how something often seen as a simple lifestyle issue with an easy fix is much more complex. It is important that we look beyond just the surface level of these treatments and start recognising and evaluating the weaknesses that are yet to improve if we want to genuinely improve healthcare!"
The Lottery of Devolved Cancer Care
To explore the dilemmas of prioritising health care Professor Peter Littlejohns has produced a film called “The lottery of Devolved Cancer Care”. It examines variation in access to expensive cancer drugs in the home countries. It is based on the circumstances that led Ifron Williams moving from Wales to England to get his treatment and then how he established his campaign “Hawl i Fyw” to get fair access to health services.
"I think it is beautifully filmed and thought provoking to those who are outside this bubble of cancer treatment " Rebecca Willams Ifron's widow July 2017
