Write Your Own Historical Story Competition and the Joan Blyth Memorial Prize 2011.

The competition this year has again been successful. We received 97 entries from 41 schools across England and Wales with far flung entries from St John's School in Cyprus, the British School in Muscat and furthest of all, the Kellett British International School in Hong Kong. We also received two entries from home schooled children. These entries broke down into 7 stories from Year 6 pupils, 31 stories from Year 7 pupils, 30 from Year 8 pupils and 28 from Year 9 pupils. Their stories came from a wide variety of periods and places in the past; they ranged from Ancient Rome to Bloody Sunday, from the southern states of the USA to Singapore. The quality of stories was strong across all Years but the judges were particularly impressed with the quality of the Year 6 writers.

The judges looked for, and found stories that combined a gripping plot with a strong sense of the past. The best writers clearly had done their research thoroughly but did not let the history swamp the story. Instead of describing an entire battle they would focus upon an incident within it. Instead of a cast of thousands they included just a few well drawn main characters. Instead of weeks and months passing the events might just occur within a single day. They also used such literary devices as repetition and they showed good control of their characters and plot. Some writers had clearly benefited from good editing, from their peers or from teachers. Others had been influenced by their reading of chick lit or adventure stories for example. Once again some pupils had clearly worked as a Year group writing stories set in a particular period; in others as members of a history club or as part of the provision for gifted and talented pupils; whilst some had written entirely on their own. All were remarkably creative.

A judging panel of Dave Martin with Beth Brooke and Nigel Watt (teachers at All Saints Comprehensive School, Weymouth) and Fiona Ray and Fiona Scott (teacher and librarian at Dorchester Middle School) and Year 6, 7 and 8 pupils from Dorchester Middle met on Saturday 4^th June in the Dorset County Museum to read and discuss the short listed stories.

 

Winners

Year 6

‘Match of the Day' by Joshua, Forres Sandle Manor School. Fordingbridge.

‘Roman on the Run' by Lily, St Mary's and St Peter's C. of E. Primary School, Teddington.

 

Year 7

‘Roman Heart' by Isobel, The Mount School, York.

‘A Night that will never be forgotten' by Isobel, Repton Preparatory School, Derbyshire.

 

Year 8

‘The Watchmaker' by Max, Marlborough House School, Kent.

‘Daylight show through the little keyhole' by Lauren, Highgate Wood School, London.

 

Year 9

‘Fall of Eagles' by Jeremy, Stockport Grammar School, Cheshire.

‘Orange and Green' by Michael, Langley Park School for Boys, Beckenham.

 

Short listed

Year 6

‘A Boy's War' by Ava, St Mary's and St Peter's C of E Primary School, Teddington.

‘Escape from Singapore' by Nikhil, Tanglin Trust School, Singapore.

‘London' Burning' by Maria, St Mary's and St Peter's C of E Primary School, Teddington.

 

Year 7

‘Edward's Diary: The Peasants' Revolt' by Helena, The West Bridgford School, Nottingham.

‘My Adventure to Briton' by Hannah, The Mount School, York.

‘George and Edith by Benjamin, Maesteg Comprehensive School, Maesteg.

 

Year 8

‘Hold Me Tight' by Mollie, Ribblesdale School, Clitheroe.

‘Colour of the Night Sky by Matilda, The Queen's School, Chester.

‘29^th January 1649' by Sophie, North London Collegiate School, Middlesex.

 

Year 9

‘Freedom by Shannon, St Richards' Catholic College, Bexhill.

‘Boys and Men' by Rosie, Bishop Luffa School, Chichester.

‘The Last Kinder-Transport' by Emma, Bishop Luffa School, Chichester.

 

The eight winning entries each received an engraved Bath Aqua Glass paperweight and £25 prize plus a Winner certificate. Their schools received a years free membership of the Historical Association.

All short-listed entries received a Short Listed certificate.