Friendships – Let Your Creativity Shine!
Following the tremendous success of last year’s Write for READ competition, we are thrilled to announce its return. With over 300 submissions from across the UK and beyond, the quality of your writing left our readers and judges in awe. A heartfelt thank you to all who participated, and congratulations to our winners.
Exciting News: We’re now including a KS5 category (16-18 years old) to challenge our readers and judges even further. We eagerly anticipate the entries from this age group.
This Year’s Theme: Embracing the Spirit of Heroism. In a time where heroes take many forms, we turn our focus to celebrating these remarkable figures. This year’s theme, ‘Heroes’, invites you to explore heroism, both in the real world and the realms of fiction.
From the everyday heroes who quietly make a difference, often unnoticed, to the fantastical superheroes of our imaginations, this theme is a tribute to acts of kindness, bravery, and selflessness. Whether drawing inspiration from an unsung community member, a close friend, or a family member, or conjuring up your own superhero character, we encourage you to capture the essence of what makes a hero.
This is your chance to highlight these extraordinary individuals or characters in your creative works. Let your imagination take flight and share your unique perspective on what heroism means to you.
The best submissions will be published in the UK and showcased in READ schools internationally, allowing students supported by our amazing donors to be inspired by your creativity.
Categories:
KS1 (5-7 years)
KS2 (7-11 years)
KS3 (11-14 years)
KS4 (14-16 years)
KS5 (16-18 years)
PRIZES:
Most submissions per school: £150 voucher for books.
Key stage winners: 1st place (£100), 2nd place (£50), and 3rd place (£25).
HOW TO ENTER:
Open to all UK students aged 5-18. Students under 16 require parental consent. KS1 entries should be handwritten; others must be word processed and anonymous.
Choose the appropriate Key Stage link above for prompts.
Follow instructions carefully, adhering to the word limit, and ensuring anonymity.
Complete the form below, uploading your entry with parental/guardian supervision if under 18.
Share a photo of your work, encouraging others to participate. Let’s get the nation writing!
Entries open: 6th December 2023
Deadline: 20th February 2024, 11:59 pm
JUDGING CRITERIA:
Entries will be evaluated for creativity, originality, and articulation.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
This competition is a vital platform for students adapting to new normals, offering an opportunity to enhance their creativity and express their thoughts and stories.
RULES:
Please read and adhere to these rules:
Free entry, one per student.
Open to UK residents aged 5-18, including school and home-schooled students.
Entries must be in English, original, and free from offensive content.
KS1 entries must be handwritten on an A4 page. KS2-5 entries must be word processed.
Submit via the online form.
No group entries.
Late entries will not be accepted.
Anonymity is essential; do not include your name on the entry.
Judging will involve a preliminary assessment to shortlist the top 10 entries per stage, followed by a final evaluation by our judges. Winners will be announced on our website in May 2024.
Winners agree to participate in promotional activities, with their full name, photograph, and location used for press coverage. This aims to elevate the profiles of our young writers and the competition.