Newcastle Scholarship
The Newcastle Scholarship is an annual prize awarded at Eton College in England for the highest performance in a series of special written examinations taken over the course of a week. It was instituted and first awarded in 1829. It is the College's most prestigious prize, and for over a century until it changed form in 1976 it was considered the premier school prize examination in England for school students of the Classics and Divinity.
History
The scholarship was instituted and first awarded in 1829 on the initiative and benefaction of Henry Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle. The Statutes, recorded in 1841, state:'The design and object of these Scholarships is to promote and encourage a Religious education and sound and useful Learning in general among the Scholars of Eton School, including particularly accurate Scholarship in Greek and Roman literature but most especially and principally to inculcate a thorough knowledge of the Evidence, Doctrines and Precepts of the Christian Religion.'
The winner of the Newcastle Scholarship was awarded a cash prize of £250, a considerable sum in 1829, while the runner-up received a Gold Medal. Originally a series of up to twelve examinations in the ancient languages and in knowledge of Biblical texts, the Scholarship was split into two in 1977, becoming one Prize for Divinity and one for Classics.
Exam format
Since 1987 the Newcastle Scholarship has been an examination in philosophical theology, moral theory, and applied ethics. Candidates sit two three-hour papers after Long Leave in the Lent Half. Each paper consists of about 12 questions divided into two sections. Candidates must answer three questions in each paper, at least one chosen from each section.Since its foundation, many distinguished British theologians and philosophers have been invited to examine the Newcastle. In 1840 William Gladstone was one of the examiners, together with Lord Lyttelton. In addition to setting the papers and marking the scripts, they choose a set book on a theme of their choice, upon which candidates are examined.
Winners
Distinguished winners of the Newcastle Scholarship in its original form have included Sir Edward Shepherd Creasy, William Johnson Cory, WR Inge, M. R. James, Patrick Shaw-Stewart, Arthur Rhys-Davids, Quintin Hogg, Baron Hailsham of St Marylebone, Douglas Hurd and William Waldegrave. Those who have become professional classicists include Roger Mynors, Charles Willink, Adrian Hollis, Richard Jenkyns and Armand D’Angour.The following is a list of winning Scholars, and Medallists since 1946. They are listed with their post-nominals earned at the school: "KS": King's Scholar; "OS": Oppidan Scholar; "MS": Music Scholar; "ME": Music Exhibitioner.
"ma" indicates the elder of two brothers at the school, or exceptionally the eldest of three or the second of four or more; "mi" similarly indicates the second of two or three, or the third of four or more.
| Year | Scholar | Medallist |
| 1946 | C. W. Willink, KS | T. J. Burrows, KS |
| 1947 | D. R. Hurd, KS | S. Goldblatt, KS |
| 1948 | C. L. Drage, OS | S. M. Haskell, KS |
| 1949 | S. M. Haskell, KS | S. H. Willink, KS |
| 1950 | S. H. Willink, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1951 | S. L. Egerton, KS | M. C. Stokes, KS |
| 1952 | M. Mortimer, KS | W. J. A. Wickham, OS |
| 1953 | S. L. Hugh-Jones, KS | R. C. Palmer, KS |
| 1954 | R. B. O’G. Anderson ma KS | P. M. O. Stafford, KS |
| 1955 | N. P. Bayne, KS | C. M. K. Taylor ma KS |
| 1956 | E. L. Hussey, KS | P. T. S. Carson, KS |
| 1957 | M. Elliott, KS | A. S. Hollis, KS |
| 1958 | A. S. Hollis, KS | T. R. Adès, KS |
| 1959 | T. R. Adès, KS | J. P. Steele, KS |
| 1960 | K. A. O. Fulton, KS | G. A. D. Emerson, KS |
| 1961 | G. A. D. Emerson, KS | J. V. Kerby, KS |
| 1962 | R. J. A. Carnwath ma OS | P. T. Hutchinson, KS |
| 1963 | F. M. Prideaux, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1964 | A. G. Foster-Carter, KS | R. J. Lane Fox, OS |
| 1965 | The Hon. W. G. Waldegrave, OS | The Hon. A. J. L. Bruce, OS |
| 1966 | R. H. A. Jenkyns, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1967 | J. W. Waterfield, KS | N. S. R. Hornblower, KS |
| 1968 | The Hon. P. C. H. Snow, KS | O. W. A. Barnes, KS |
| 1969 | S. P. M. Mackenzie, KS | M. P. R. Wormald, KS |
| 1970 | R. R. Oliver, OS | The Hon. A. D. A. Macdonald, OS |
| 1971 | The Hon. A. W. R. Morrison, KS | A. J. Pemberton, KS |
| 1972 | A. J. Pemberton, KS | J. D. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1973 | H. C. Lawson-Tancred, KS | S. G. Barber, OS |
| 1974 | M. J. Lyall Grant, OS | J. H. Leigh Pemberton ma OS |
| 1975 | H. C. Eyres, KS | The Hon. G. S. Monck OS |
| 1976 | A. J. D’Angour ma KS | M. A. Anderson KS |
| 1977 | A. A. J. Monson ma OS | N. I. Macpherson, KS |
| 1978 | D. W. K. Anderson, KS | M.R.V. Southern KS |
| 1979 | J. W. Mackinnon, KS | J. W. R Cummings, KS |
| 1980 | P. D. P. Barnes ma OS | M. Brandreth, KS |
| 1981 | K. K. Nath, KS | G. T. S. Davson, KS |
| 1982 | G. T. S. Davson KS | A. D. T. Cromartie, KS |
| 1983 | H. J. B. Smith, KS | A. D. T. Cromartie KS |
| 1984 | D. W. Runciman, OS | J. F. Boff, KS |
| 1985 | S. H. Mandelbrote, KS | A. J. N. Roxburgh KS |
| 1986 | P. S. Drinkall, OS | J. W. Rees-Mogg |
| 1987 | B. J. Smith ma OS | W. G. Wringe, KS |
| 1988 | H. R. M. Dimbleby | C. R. Heatly, KS MS |
| 1989 | J. B. R. Reppas ma KS | T. G. M. Mitcheson, OS |
| 1990 | E. W. J. Lamb | N. J. I. Kind, KS |
| 1991 | T. P. Elias, KS | D. K. Renton, OS |
| 1992 | K. A. A. Kwarteng, KS | F. F-T. Chen, OS |
| 1993 | D. A. S. Hugh-Jones, KS | A. C. Warr, OS |
| 1994 | I. N. M. Wright, KS | A. C. E. Ruck Keene, OS |
| 1995 | T. D. Calvocoressi, OS | R. J. Starling, KS |
| 1996 | P. M-T. Sohmen, KS ME | S. Krishnan, KS |
| 1997 | R. A. Elliott Lockhart, OS | R. V. Gowan ma KS |
| 1998 | N. T. Shah, KS | L. P. C. Geddes |
| 1999 | C. P. W. Fielding, OS | N. T. Shah, KS |
| 2000 | J. D. J. Neicho, KS | M. J. Pappenheim, KS |
| 2001 | H. H. Briance, OS | A. Grenfell ma KS ME |
| 2002 | O. J. C. Bridge | H. H. Briance, OS |
| 2003 | J. C. Dacre ma K.S | H. J. Ellis, OS |
| 2004 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | T. C. Wingfield, OS |
| 2005 | H. C. R. Donati, OS | F. J. O. Spring |
| 2006 | N. H. J. Gaisman OS ME | A. H. White mi KS |
| 2007 | M. I. L. Osman | A. T. P. Parham mi |
| 2008 | G. K. Kotecha, KS | J. H. F. Roxburgh, KS |
| 2009 | A. A. Nadeem, KS | R. Mehan, OS |
| 2010 | A. A. Cornish, KS | D. J. F. C. Leung, KS MS |
| 2011 | W. J. Gowers, KS | H. Xu, KS |
| 2012 | M. A. P. Seely, KS | T. A. Bannatyne, KS |
| 2013 | H.C. Elliott ma KS | S.A.P. Norman ma OS ME |
| 2014 | C.J. Styles | A.A. Groes, OS |
| 2015 | B.P. Barnard | W. Baker |
| 2016 | J. Choo-Choy | M. Woernle ma OS |
| 2017 | L. Fraser-Taliente OS | L. Li KS |
| 2018 | K. Power | A.F. Warley |
| 2019 | G. Conradie KS | T. Chow KS |
| 2020 | F.A.W. Kirkby MS | W.I.S. Ferguson |
Recent Examiners
| Year | Examiner | Set Text |
| 1988 | Professor John MacQuarrie | Peace Studies: The Hard Questions |
| 1989 | Canon Brian Hebblethwaite | Mahoney, Bioethics and Belief |
| 1990 | Professor Stephen Prickett | Prickett, What do the Translators Think They are Up To? |
| 1991 | Rabbi Julia Neuberger | Webster, A Brief History of Blasphemy |
| 1992 | The Rt Revd Stephen Sykes | Report on Faith in the Countryside |
| 1993 | Professor Basil Mitchell | Sacks, The Persistence of Faith |
| 1994 | Sir Anthony Kenny | Casey, Pagan Virtue |
| 1995 | Professor Stephen Clark | Regis, Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Condition |
| 1996 | Dr Janet Martin Soskice | Sacks, Faith in the Future |
| 1997 | Dr Graham Ward | Weil, Gravity and Grace |
| 1998 | Professor David Pailin | Mesle, Process Theology |
| 1999 | Professor Peter Lipton | Nagel, Mortal Questions |
| 2000 | Professor Ann Loades MBE | Pelikan, Jesus through the Centuries |
| 2001 | Mr Michael Proudfoot | Warnock, Imagination and Time |
| 2002 | Professor John Webster | MacIntyre, Dependent Rational Animals |
| 2003 | Professor Roger Trigg | Fukuyama, Our Posthuman Future |
| 2004 | Professor Anthony O'Hear | Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion |
| 2005 | Professor George Pattison | Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling |
| 2006 | Dr Fraser Watts | James Proctor, Science, Religion and the Human Experience |
| 2007 | Dr Susan Parsons | Anselm, Proslogion |
| 2009 | Dr Douglas Hedley | Kant, The Moral Law |
| 2010 | Professor John Cottingham | Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morality |
| 2011 | Dr Paolo Crivelli | Plato, Phaedo |
| 2012 | Dr Dave Leal | Ryle, The Concept of Mind |
| 2013 | Professor Derek Matravers | Williams, Morality |
| 2014 | Dr William Wood | Pascal, Pensées |
| 2015 | Dr Clare Carlisle | Lear, Radical Hope |
| 2016 | Dr Jonathan Loose | Plantinga, Knowledge and Christian Belief |
| 2017 | Professor John Skorupski | Descartes, Meditations on First Philosophy |
| 2018 | Professor Jens Timmermann | Kant, The Conflict of the Faculties |
| 2019 | Professor Sarah Coakley | Fricker, Epistemic Injustice |
| 2020 | Professor Oliver O'Donovan | Augustine, On the Nature of the Good and Scheler, Repentance and Rebirth |