The Wicked Young Writer Awards launch event at Leys Primary School included a workshop with author Sam Gayton. Picture: Ellie Kurttz
Leys Primary School in East London was the setting for the launch of the eighth Wicked Young Writer Awards.
The Dagenham school was chosen to host the launch as winners of the prize for entering the highest number of submissions to the 2017 awards, 160 in total. The event also included a tailor-made Wicked writing workshop with children’s author Sam Gayton and a performance by Wicked cast member Laura Pick.
Commenting on the launch of the 2018 awards, Leys Primary School headteacher Grant Krog said: “Participating in the Wicked Young Writer Awards has been fun, engaging and an all-round positive experience for Leys Primary School. The children have enjoyed being part of a national competition which has seen their talents celebrated beyond the classroom and school community. They’ve learnt a lot about writing for a specific audience and from my discussions with many of them they are also keen to continue to write for pleasure.”
Launched in 2010, the prestigious awards were created by the producers of the multi award-winning musical Wicked in collaboration with Michael Morpugo and the National Literacy Trust recognise excellence in writing, encourage creativity and develop writing talent in young people.
Over 25,000 young people have entered the awards since they began, and the 2017 awards attracted the highest number of entries to date. More than 600 primary and secondary schools and colleges entered last year’s awards from all over the UK with a particularly impressive rise in entries for the 8-10 and 18-25 categories.
As in previous years the awards cover five different age categories encompassing young people aged five to 25 years of age. For the third year the event will include the For Good Award for Non-Fiction which encourages 15 to 25-year-olds to write essays or articles that recognise the positive impact that people can have on each other, their communities and the world in general. The category celebrates the Wicked: For Good programme, which supports the charitable causes at the heart of the stage musical.
Paying tribute to those involved in the popular awards, Michael McCabe, Wicked’s executive producer said: “All of us at Wicked are incredibly proud of this project and greatly indebted to Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall; author Cressida Cowell; the National Literacy Trust; and our founding judge, Michael Morpurgo, for their support. Their passionate commitment to encouraging creative writing and improving literacy standards amongst young people in the UK is an inspiration to us all.”
The Wicked Young Writers Awards raise money for the National Literacy Trust, who campaign to improve public understanding of the vital importance of literacy. Jonathan Douglas, director of the National Literacy Trust, will be returning as part of the judging panel and the award continues to be championed Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall who will continue to serve as patron of the awards until 2020.
The 2018 awards are now open for entries and will close on 12 March 2018, entrants can submit their writing by visiting the awards’ website where they will also find writing tips and resources from the judges.
Pieces of original writing can be submitted individually, or by a teacher, parent, carer or guardian on behalf of an entrant. The overall winners from each category will win £50 book/eBook tokens, and the 5 to 14-year-old winners will get £100 worth of books for their school library donated by Hachette Children’s Group.
Winners in the 15-17, 18-25 and For Good categories will also win an exclusive writing experience with one of the awards’ literacy partners. The individual school that submits the most entries will also win a Creative Writing Workshop delivered by Wicked’s education team.
Winners in all categories receive a VIP family experience at the West End production of Wicked, including tickets, an exclusive backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with members of the cast.
Angela Thomas
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