A London school girl has beaten off competition from more than 8,500 entries to scoop this year’s Times Educational Supplement Write Away competition.

Josie Thum, a pupil at Chiswick and Bedford Park Prep School, picked up the top prize for her essay “Nightfall” in the primary section. Students were asked to submit autobiographical essays of no more than 500 words based on their account of a person, place or incident important to them. The star pupil received a host of prizes including a PSP donated by competition sponsor ICUE, tickets to see Coriolanus and a selection of novels from acclaimed authors and Write Away judges, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Rosen.

Finalists were accompanied by teachers and parents for the awards ceremony on Thursday (8th June) at the home of Shakespeare - The Globe Theatre in London – and winners were presented their prizes by Wilson and Rosen.

Children’s Laureate and judge, Jacqueline Wilson, said: “I judge several children’s writing competitions each year and I’m always particularly impressed by the high standard of the TES Write Away entries. It’s heart-warming that so many young people write with such style and vigour”

Poet Michael Rosen said: “When young people are given the chance to explore the moments and feelings that are important to them, then the results, as here with this year’s Write Away, are fascinating, moving and delightful”

Twenty students were short listed from the 8,500 entries in the Write Away competition, which is organised by the Times Educational Supplement and supported by the National Association for the Teaching of English to enhance literacy in schools. The winners from these twenty, two primary and two secondary, will also get to see their winning entry in print published in this week’s (9th June) Times Educational Supplement Teacher magazine. All twenty finalists will have their entries published on the TES website (www.tes.co.uk).

Times Educational Supplement

June 9, 2006