We are pleased to announce the winners of the Young Sociologist of the Year Competition 2025/26 answering the question, ‘What are the most significant social challenges facing your generation?’.  This year, for the first time, we have winners in two categories: Written and Audio-Visual.

Written Category Winner:

Charlie Giles – The Norton Knatchbull School, Kent

The judges said: ‘This was an original and interesting essay, focusing on the often-neglected topic of young people’s emotions. The essay provided great insight and the student had conducted their own research and discussed the findings. It was well written, with a good, logical structure and acknowledged sources.’

Photo: Ms Leona Robinson (Sociology Teacher), Charlie Giles

Audio-Visual Category Winner:

Sofiia Olikhovska – The Sixth Form College, Colchester

The judges said: ‘This short video explored the topic through interviews with students from different backgrounds, connecting what came out from the interviews well with sociological ideas. The video was visually engaging and the student’s interest came across well.’

Photo: Laura Pountney (Head of Year1 Sociology), Sofiia Olikhovska

This year’s record number of 184 entries meant the judges were joined by five BSA member volunteers to help with reviewing and shortlisting, with the judges making all final decisions.  It was a significant undertaking and we’re grateful to each of them for giving their time.

The judges would like to acknowledge the runners up for both categories and the entries which made the Written category shortlist.

Written Category:

Runners Up

  • Caitlyn Chia – Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur
  • Elva Howard – Queen Elizabeth’s Grammer School Faversham, Kent
  • Maya Ali – The Cherwell School, Oxford

Shortlist

  • Aleisha Brown – Queen Elizabeth’s Grammer School Faversham, Kent
  • Ariadne Sexon – The Downs School, Berkshire
  • Eylul Ciftci – Rainham School for Girls, Kent
  • Faith Obum-Uchendu – Kendrick School, Reading
  • Hei Yau Wong – Kendrick School, Reading
  • Kalyani Kaneswaran – Wembley High Technology College, Wembley
  • Penelope Campbell – Gordons School, Woking

Audio/ Visual Category:

Runners Up

  • Gabriel Underwood – Lowestoft Sixth Form College, Suffolk
  • Honey Ferreira – Rochdale Sixth Form College, Rochdale
  • Taniska Pawar – Presdales School, Hertfordshire

We would like to thank all the students who entered, and your teachers for their support! We are delighted to see such a strong cohort of new sociology students.