The Third Form MALIM* prize – 2025
This is a key rite of passage for all Wellingtonians. Every pupil in the Third Form enters the MALIM and has one chance to win. Whereas a win is unlikely for any individual, the completion of MALIM is worthwhile for what one learns along the way. MALIM is an intellectual endeavour.
The MALIM is launched in the second half of the Michaelmas term, and runs until St Valentine’s day. All submissions must be received by 14th February 2026.
Occasionally pupils within a tutor group will opt for a joint submission. This is allowed in categories 2 – 5 inclusive, with permission from the tutor.
Your Submission
There is no set topic for MALIM. Pupils choose any topic they wish. Before any work is done in earnest, the tutor must ‘sign off’ on each pupil’s choice. Originality, ambition, and interest, should be your guiding principles.
Progress in the MALIM is monitored by tutors. They collect the final submission. It is expected pupils will work in a consistent manner during the ten school weeks that the prize is ‘live’.
Pupil submissions are not ‘marked’ against standard criteria. Tutors will provide brief feedback on each submission, then choose their group’s best two prize submissions to be submitted to a panel of four judges. From this, the best three are selected, including an overall winner, to be awarded on speech day. The winner will present their work in the summer academic assembly.
Each pupil makes a submission from one of the following five categories:
Fragments
Pupils choose one of the 16 ‘fragments’ offered [parts of poems, stories, quotations etc]. Pick your favourite and then either research it to discover its author, original meaning and context; or use your chosen ‘fragment’ in isolation, to stimulate a piece of creative writing that contains the ‘fragment’ at its heart. Word guide: 500 – 750.
Creation
This may be a musical composition, or a work of art in any medium, including performance. It must be original work. It should be accompanied by 100 words explaining your creation and the thought behind it.
Curation
Compilation of between six and twelve images to create an exhibition with a clear theme. 50 words on each image and 100 words to introduce the curation, explaining why you chose these images for the exhibition.
Speech/monologue
Between five and ten minutes, deliver a persuasive and compelling rhetoric, which can be pre-recorded, or performed ‘live’ within one’s tutor group. It can be delivered with or without notes.
Manifesto
Write in booklet or poster form a political, artistic (or other) manifesto outlining your views on a movement you would like to establish: what it seeks to achieve and how.
Past Winners & Finalists
2025
Winner
Tirion E (W)
Tirion’s winning entry was an impressive piece of creative writing. The story, “Light Years,” was highly descriptive and immersive – a historical fantasy that takes the reader to authentic moments in history, presenting the protagonist with moral dilemmas through an adventure-filled plot. Tirion’s enthusiasm and effort shone through; she even had the book bound and presented it in an illustrated box she had decorated herself.
Tirion says: “The Malim project gave me the chance to turn a small idea into something far more ambitious. It allowed me to combine my interests in History and English, making the process both challenging and genuinely enjoyable. One of the most valuable things I learned was how perspective can completely change the way we understand events.”
Finalist
Helen B (W)
Socially inflicted pressures play a major role in forming elite athletes’ experiences in competitive sport. Athletes try to become the societal ideals often combining physical appearance with sporting ability. Social comparison with teammates, competitors, and athletes on social media makes these pressures even greater. The expectation to live with extreme discipline creates tension between athletic demands and social life, leading to becoming isolated and unprepared for what society brings. The reason I chose an art form to express my feelings is that even if everything looks good from the outside, there are hurdles to get over in order to compete at such a high level.
Helen says: “Having the opportunity to explore something of interest to me was really rewarding… it helped to extend my understanding and led me to develop my project in a more powerful way.”
Finalist
Zoe C (A)
A thoughtful and visually engaging ‘Creation’ submission, exploring the theme of journey through expressive techniques that capture both physical movement and emotional discovery.
Zoe says: “Through this project, my understanding of ‘journey’ developed beyond simple physical travel into something more personal and reflective.”
Finalist
Clemmie C (C)
A persuasive and visually striking ‘Manifesto’ submission “Say Yes”, presenting a clear and uplifting argument for the power of positivity.
Clemmie says: “The MALIM process encouraged me to think more independently and changed how I approach complicated ideas… The process also helped me think through and improve my own arguments.”
Finalist
Keiki F (Ap)
A ‘Curation’-style project, offering a thoughtful exploration of Brazilian culture that effectively challenges misconceptions through firsthand experience and economic analysis.
Keiki says: “The Malim project allowed me to explore something I love, while also helping me build a stronger connection with my people and my home.”
Finalist
Ella I (C)
An intellectually ambitious ‘Fragments’ response offering a perceptive reinterpretation of Sartre’s “Hell is other people” with strong philosophical and modern insight.
Ella says: “Through the process, I learnt… that the words of the past still find meaning in the present… relating to the world around me now in more ways than one.”
Finalist
Sarrinah I (T)
A deeply reflective and eloquent ‘Speech/Monologue’ submission, using letters to her future self to explore identity, time, and personal growth with maturity and emotional insight.
Sarrinah says: “Writing the Malim project helped me explore identity, time, and personal growth… and develop my confidence in expressing complex emotions creatively.”
Finalist
Olly S (Pn)
A compelling ‘Speech/Monologue’ submission in podcast form, exploring the powerful role of music through Bob Marley and the Wailers with clear insight and strong historical context.
Olly says: “The Malim project pushed me to think more deeply about new ideas, giving me the freedom to be creative while producing an academic piece. It changed how I approach essays and independent work.”
Finalist
Harry W (S)
A vivid and highly original ‘Fragments’ response, crafting a gripping and psychologically intense narrative that powerfully explores survival, human nature, and moral ambiguity.
Harry says: “I learnt that the most memorable writing isn’t always the safest, but the kind that is brave enough to take creative risks and include highly original ideas.”
International Winner
Tom Jiang
(Hiba Academy Hangzhou)
A thoughtful and analytical ‘Fragments’ response, offering a clear and insightful exploration of Yeats’s ideas on chaos and human nature with strong contextual understanding.
Tom says: “The Malim Prize allowed me to build a complete world from my passion for writing. It became a light source, helping me reflect on and challenge my own ideas, and grow beyond my past self.”
International Runner-up
Summer Hou
(Wellington College International Hangzhou)
A vivid and imaginative ‘Fragments’ response, crafting a richly descriptive and original narrative that reinterprets classical mythology with confidence and flair.
Summer says: “The Malim project gave me the chance to explore different perspectives in my writing, helping me grow both creatively and academically.”
Highly Commended
Ada Hong
(Wellington College International Tianjin)
A powerful and thought-provoking ‘Creation’ submission, using striking visual symbolism to convey the urgency of environmental issues.
Ada says: “The process of this project has sharpened my awareness of suffering and loss. But that awareness fuels my commitment to make a difference, no matter how small.”