Get creative through this cross-curricular competition!

Join hundreds of schools worldwide participating in this year's Spirited Arts competition! They welcome entries in (almost!) any art form you can think of, including:

• Art (painting, drawing, sketching, etc)

• Poetry

• Photography

• Dance

• Music

• Drama

• Sculpture

The deadline for entries is 31st July 2024. 

For more information visit - https://www.natre.org.uk/about-natre/projects/spirited-arts/ 

Poems can be on any theme and in any style but must be no longer than forty lines. You can submit as many as you like. 

Winners of the award receive a fantastic range of prizes to help develop their writing. The top 15 poets receive a mentoring package with opportunities to receive support and feedback on their writing; and all 100 winners receive a year’s youth membership of The Poetry Society and a bag full of books donated by generous publishers. 

Deadline for entries is 31st July 2024

For more information visit - https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/

The ISA Sports Cover Design Competition is a great opportunity to create art in response to a brief. 

Each year, pupils are invited to design the images for the front cover of the programmes for ISA Sports’ national events. Copies will be seen by up to 1,200 spectators at some of the larger events. This competition is open to all ages, and a design will be chosen for each sport; Athletics, Swimming, Triathlon, Tennis, Football, Hockey, Netball, Rugby and Cross Country.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/sports-cover-design-competition.html 

Closing date for entries is 20th June 2024

Sketch for Survival Junior helps to raise vital awareness about species extinction and biodiversity loss while also raising funds for projects around the world.

The competition showcases a range of different art styles and unites the voices of young people from all around the world in support of conservation. 

Deadline for entries is 30th June. 

For more information visit - https://explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/initiatives/sketch-for-survival/junior-sketch-for-survival/

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open. Entrants are invited to finish this story begun by last year’s Branford Boase Award winner, author of thrilling fantasy adventure Orphans of the Tide, Struan Murray.

Closing date for entries is 31st May 2024.

For more information visit - https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/hbwc/

This annual competition asks you to share your perspectives by submitting your fantastic:

• Artwork

• Poems

• Speeches

• Songs

However, unlike previous competitions, which were inspired by broader themes such as ‘Life After Conflict’, this year, they are looking for answers to a specific question - what does war mean to you?

For more details on this inspiration competition please visit - https://www.neversuchinnocence.com/2023-24-competition

Deadline for entries is 24th May 2024. 

EYFS and Primary pupils are invited to learn all about ladybirds by designing and creating a 2D or 3D artwork inspired by these amazing insects.

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/butterfly-art-competition.html

Deadline: Thursday 16 May 2024

This competition offers pupils an opportunity to use both mathematical and creative thinking by composing an original piece of music. Open to Key Stages 2-5.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/music-composition-competition.html 

Deadline: Thursday 9 May 2024

Can you write a terrific scientific poem? IF Oxford is seeking budding poets between 5 and 16 years old to become wondrous wordsmiths and enter the 8th annual Poetry of Science competition this spring. 

Your poem should be a maximum of 150 words and can be in any poetry style you like and doesn’t have to rhyme. How about trying one of these poem types:

• limerick

• haiku

• acrostic poem

• rap

• sonnet

Deadline for entries is 3rd May

For more information visit - https://if-oxford.com/poetry-competition/ 

The ISA Film and Animation Competition is a fantastic opportunity for pupils of all ages to use both creative and technical skills. Students are invited to make their own moving image work in any genre - from digital animation and stop motion, to silent film, documentary or video art.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/film-and-animation-competition.html 

Deadline for entries is 2nd May 2024 

The Band Competition is a chance for bands, groups and ensembles to celebrate their musical talents. All musical styles are welcome.
Open to Key Stages 1-5.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/band-competition.html 

 
Deadline: Thursday 25 April 2024

The Author of Tomorrow Award is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it is an annual competition open to young people across the world who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English. 

For more information visit - https://www.wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org/awards/author-of-tomorrow-2019 

Deadline for Entries is 30th April 2024

The ISA Essay Competition is an annual opportunity for pupils at ISA Members’ schools to showcase their writing skills. Young writers are invited to submit entries to a range of categories. Open to Years 5-13.

For more information visit -  https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/creative-writing/essay-competition.html

 
Deadline for entries: Tuesday 23 April 2024

National Book Tokens’ annual DESIGN A NATIONAL BOOK TOKEN competition is back, inviting children of all ages to get creative and share their love for books and reading by designing their own fabulous gift cards!  

The winning entrants will receive HUNDREDS of pounds worth of National Book Tokens for their schools and themselves. PLUS the overall winner will get a £10/€12 National Book Token in their winning design for every child in their class… and the opportunity to spend them in a visit to a local bookshop!  

The deadline for entries is 7th April 

For more information visit - https://www.worldbookday.com/competition/design-a-nbt/ 

The Young Sports Journalist Competition, 2024, seeks well-argued articles from aspiring journalists aged 14-21. 

Winning entries will be published online and printed in the Summer Issue of Pitch. Critiqued by our panel of accomplished judges, winners will also receive a £50 cash prize and offered work experience here at HQ. 

The competition runs from 7 February 2024 to 5 April 2024.

  For more information visit - https://www.pitch-mag.co.uk/young-sports-journalist-competition.html

Create a piece of visual art or written word on the theme of 'Time to Connect'

Entries will be split into age four groups, 7-9 years, 10-11 years, 12-15 years and 16 upwards, at the time of closing date - 31st March 2024, at 11:59 pm GMT. 

For more information visit - https://www.humanimaltrust.org.uk/humanimal-trust-creative-awards-2024 

In its 14th year The Young Songwriter 2024 (SAYS24) competition is the world’s leading songwriting competition for young aspiring songwriters, aged 8-22 (under 23 years), to get their songs heard by leaders in the industry & connect to a talented community of young songwriters across the world.

Deadline for entries is 31st March 

For more information visit - https://www.songacademy.co.uk/says24/

The story competition topic this year is coins and the sea. The royal mint are exploring the role coins have played in Britain’s history of seafaring. How they have been used by sailors and traded by merchants, how they have been tokens of good luck or the captured wealth of a rival, and how their role at sea has inspired imaginations from pirates to sunken treasure.

They want you to write a story of no more than 500 words about a ship carrying a cargo including gold coins. The ship sails into a storm and gets into trouble, what happens next?

Deadline for entry is 29th March

For more information visit - https://www.royalmintmuseum.org.uk/learning/short-story-competition/

The theme this year is ‘Time’, – there are loads of STEM topics were explored! Students could create a poster showing how a certain type of technology has changed over time, or even the advancement of time-telling technology itself. 

Budding poster makers could also go futuristic show us how they think the world might look in years to come, or perhaps look at nature – lifecycles, lifespans, evolution and hibernation – nature is full of timely topics. 

Deadline for Entries is 28th March. 

For more information and to enter visit https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/

The Digital Art Competition is a chance for students of all ages to showcase their creative skills using digital technology. Works can be drawn digitally, or created using photo editing. There is no theme, so students are free to explore whatever subjects interest them. 

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/digital-art-competition.html

 
Deadline: Wednesday 27 March 2024

This competition is encouraging pupils to explore their creativity, communication, collaboration and critical thinking through their coding skills. Open to Key Stages 2-5.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/steam/coding-competition.html
Deadline for entries: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Join for the Michael Faraday Prize Lecture given by 2023 winner Professor Anil Seth.

The nature of consciousness remains one of the greatest puzzles in science and philosophy. How do subjective experiences arise from brains and bodies? What is the ‘self’?

This free online lecture is on 26th March at 18:30. 

For more information visit - https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2024/03/faraday-prize-lecture/

Submissions are now open for the tenth year of the BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University! All you need to do is write a story of up to 1,000 words – no theme, no subject: as long as it’s a story and it’s all your own work, you can submit it. 

Deadline for entries is 25th March 2024. 

For more information visit - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2cslf9QxZKznVCqplBS0SY0/the-2024-bbc-young-writers-award-turns-10-submissions-now-open 

The BBC are looking for original stories about their lives or the world around them, or relating to subjects and issues that particularly matter to young people.

Anyone aged between 11-18 years old and living in the UK can enter.

If the idea is successful, it could appear on TV, radio, online or on social media - produced with the help of BBC journalists, producers and programme makers.

Deadline for entries is 24th March 2024

For more information visit - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/competition/zghcydm 

This competition invites EYFS and KS1 pupils to work together to create a short story with the theme 'The Time Machine'. The winning stories will be published in a book!

For more information please visit -  https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/young-storytellers-competition.html

 
Deadline: Thursday 21 March 2024

EYFS-KS2 pupils are invited to design and decorate a 3D egg to celebrate Easter. The more creative and imaginative the better!

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/easter-egg-competition.html

Deadline: Wednesday 20 March 2024

This free online lecture takes place on Tuesday 19th March at 18:00. For more information and to sign up please visit - https://ras.ac.uk/events-and-meetings/ras-public-lectures-and-events/dying-stars-seeding-universe-0

This competition celebrates the visual art of handwriting. In an age that encourages the early adoption of keyboard skills, we wish to champion, nurture, and celebrate writing by hand. Open to Years 1-6.

For more information visit -  https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/handwriting-competition.html

 
Deadline: Thursday 14 March 2024

The Science Without Borders® Challenge is an international contest that engages students and teachers in ocean conservation through art. This annual competition inspires students to be creative while promoting public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore the world’s oceans and aquatic resources,

Deadline for entries 4th March 2024.

For more information please visit - https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/education/science-without-borders-challenge/ 

Choose ONE of the following:

1. Write a poem or story about being new to a group.

2. Write a story or poem about being part of a group and what happens when a new person joins it.

3. Write a poem or story about a group working together.

• Your writing should invoke the spirit of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

• All entries must be in English.

• Think carefully about the language – choosing the words which best convey your intended meaning and message.

• You are encouraged to use everyday language and colloquialisms but if appropriate please include explanations in brackets.

• Think carefully about the characters in your writing and what they say about the world you live in.

Deadline for entries is 29 February 2024.

For more information visit https://chaucer.org.uk/the-canterbury-tales-writing-competition-2023-24-being-part-of-a-group/

An opportunity for students to explore the work of Britain's most renowned playwright. Choose a monologue and learn it off by heart, or write your own original monologue inspired by one of Shakespeare's characters. Open to Key Stages 2-5.

For more information visit -  https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/drama/shakespeare-monologue-competition.html
Deadline: Thursday 29 February 2024

The Aristotelian Award has been set up to promote the independent study skills in Year 9 pupils while simultaneously providing an avenue to explore super-curricular interests in the arts, humanities and sciences.

The competition is split into two categories – art/humanities and sciences. Prizes are awarded to winners in both categories of the competition.

Closing date for entries to the 2023-24 competition is 5pm on Monday 26 February 2024.

For more information on how to enter visit - https://research.perse.co.uk/aristotelian/

For some, it is a lifetime’s pursuit, often slipping through their grasp while others see it fall into their hands by mere chance. However achieved, through talent or luck, Fame, can be an ill-fated prize. The 19th Elmbridge Literary Competition, run in partnership by The R C Sherriff Trust and Elmbridge Borough Council, is looking for short stories and poems on the theme of the double-edged sword that is ‘FAME’.

For more information visit - https://www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk/elmbridge-literary-competition

Deadline for Entries is 23rd February 2024

From Legally Blonde to Les Misérables, the world of musical theatre has something for everyone and is the perfect way to showcase both musical and dramatic skills. Students are invited to choose a song from their favourite musical and perform it as either a solo or duet. Shortlisted entries will make it through to our live final. Open to Key Stages 2-5.

For more information  visit -  https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/musical-theatre-competition.html 

Deadline: Tuesday 13 February 2024

Global Canvas children’s art competition is an annual international art contest run by DSWF, to encourage creativity from young people, to display thought and concern for our planet’s environment and the incredible wildlife that inhabits it.

Deadline for entries is 13th February 2024. 

For more information visit - https://davidshepherd.org/wildlife-art/competitions/global-canvas/ 

A fantastic opportunity for pupils to showcase their poetry writing skills and have their work read by a renowned poet. Open to Key Stages 1-5.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/creative-writing/poetry-competition.html

 
Deadline for entries: Wednesday 7 February 2024

The ISA STEAM Competition encourages pupils to investigate and consider solutions to modern day problems. Pupils are presented with an opportunity to showcase and develop skills such as teamwork, communication and problem solving. Open to Key Stages 2-3.

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/steam/steam-competition.html 

Deadline for entries: Thursday 1 February 2024

An annual competition of short and micro-fiction based in Farnham Surrey, with three prizes and publication of the longlisted entries.

Deadline for entries is 1st February 2024. 

For more information visit - https://www.flashfiction500.com/ 

The first Haiku Contest was organised by the JAL Foundation in 1990 and has been held every two years since then. Japan Airlines, with support and assistance from the Japan Society, is pleased to announce the 2023-2024 Contest. Any form of artwork (except photographs or digital images) can be submitted.

Every entry must be the original and unpublished work of the child himself/herself. Assistance by others (parents, other adults, siblings, or other children) is prohibited.

Deadline for Entries 15th January 2024. 

The ISA Comic Strip Competition encourages you to create your own storyboard or cartoon as a means of exploring a topical subject. This competition is open to Key Stages 1-5.

Deadline for entries: Thursday 11 January 2024

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/comic-strip-competition.html

The brief for this year’s Youth competition is ‘Through Your Eyes’. What is your (and your generation's) perception of the world? From your family to the local environment to your day-to-day life, show us what – through your eyes – are the subjects and themes you want to photograph and share. Whatever the genre, technique or subject matter, we want to see your photographs. You can enter up to three images for free.

For more information please visit - https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/youth 

Deadline for Entries is 5th January 2024

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. 

There are over twenty questions to choose from which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

For more information please visit - https://www.immerse.education/essay-competition/ 

Closing date for entries is 4th January 2024

Any film, any genre any time of year. 

The Film of the Month competition celebrates exceptional young filmmaking talent from across the UK. Filmmaking is more accessible than it ever has been, and that's illustrated in the quantity and quality of the entries we receive every month.

Film of the Month is open to all young people across the UK. However, if you are 17 and under and want to submit your film, a parent or guardian will need to provide their details to give consent for you to participate.

For more information please visit - https://www.intofilm.org/competitions/1 

You can enter a different film each month!

The long-standing ISA Young Musician Competition celebrates the talent and passion for music performance that exists within our Members’ schools. This competition offers an exciting opportunity for students to perform and watch their peers at a live music concert. Open to Key Stages 1-5.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/isa-young-musician-competition.html

 
Deadline: Thursday 7 December 2023

If you can say the words, you can write the words. Express yourself through poetry - whatever shape or form - and you could win £75! The competition is open to all school aged children, with two prizes for primary and one for secondary.

For more details visit - https://www.festivalofwords.co.uk/poetry-competition/

Closing date for entries is 30th November. 

For our One Teen Story contest, we ask writers ages 13-19 to enter their original, unpublished fiction. We are interested in great short stories of any genre about the teen experience—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, horror, etc. What’s in a great short story? Interesting teen characters, strong writing, and a beginning, middle, and end.

Deadline for entries is 27th November 2023. 

For more information visit https://one-story.com/write/one-teen-story-contest/

Poetry Together 2023 launches this Autumn with the challenge for young and old, far and wide to connect and share in the joy of poetry.

By taking part in Poetry Together 2023 you could receive:

An invitation to present your poem on ITV's This Morning.

Publication of written poems in the Poetry Together Anthology, a copy of which will beheld in the Royal Library and the British Library.

£250 worth of books for your school library.

For more information visit - https://www.poetrytogether.com/ 

Closing date for entries is 24th November 

In this festive competition, pupils are invited to design the official ISA email signature banner for Christmas. Open to EYFS-KS2.

For more information please visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/christmas-banner-competition.html

Deadline: Wednesday 22 November 2023

Wild Words is an exciting new cross-species poetry project inviting young people aged 18 and under across the UK to connect with nature.

We want you to collaborate with an element of your local environment, whether a flower, insect, bird, tree, natural landscape, or even the weather, to craft an original piece of poetry.

Deadline is 19th November 2023. 

For more information visit - https://www.theatreintherough.com/wildwords/ 

The Solstice Writing Prize is a national, annual writing competition for young writers, which invites young people to take a closer look at the natural world, explore their relationship with it, or examine the challenges it faces, and write short stories, poems, and thought-provoking blogs in response.

Entries must be 500 words (for short stories and blogs) or 40 lines (for poems). Young writers may enter only one piece of writing.

For more information visit - https://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/young-writers-groups/solstice-writing-prize/

Closing date for entries is 31st October 2023. 

This competition is for those interested in History and Writing. You could win a £500 travel grant, tickets to one of the UK’s best book festivals, and the chance to see your own work in print in a special anthology. Stories must be between 800 and 2,000 words, and set in a time before you were born.

For more information visit - https://www.walterscottprize.co.uk/young-walter-scott-prize/ 

The closing date for entries is 31st October. 

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) is holding its annual artwork contest to help star-seeking children get engaged with the excitement of space exploration.

Children ages four to 12 years old can submit artwork in four space-related themes. Winning artwork will be selected from three age groups in each theme, and first, second, and third place selections will be used to create an out-of-this-world calendar for 2024!

For more information visit - https://www.nasa.gov/feature/commercial-crew-artwork-contest 

Deadline for entries is 25th October. 

This poetry competition is free to enter. 

All entrants will receive a bookmark, and those chosen for publication will receive a certificate of merit.

For more information visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/KS1/ks1-me23 

Closing date for entries is 20th October 2023. 

This Is Me: I Am... encourages you to express yourselves through verse. With no limits on theme, length or poetic style, this competition gives you the opportunity to take control of what and how you want to write. 

For more information please visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/KS3-5/this 

Closing date for entries is 20th October 2023

The competition has four categories.

• Key Stage 2 (pupils aged 7-11)

• Key Stage 3 (pupils aged 11-14)

• Key Stage 4 or GCSE (pupils aged 14-16)

• Key Stage 5 or A Level (pupils aged 16-18)

Students should enter the Key Stage category they will be in on 30 June 2023. For example, if you are/were in Year 9 in June 2023, you should submit as a KS3 entry. Entries should be individual - we will not accept entries from groups or pairs of students. 

The deadline for receipt of all entries is Monday 2 October 2023 at 5.00pm. 

For more information please visit - https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/young-geographer-of-the-year/2023-competition/ 

This year’s competition is about finding and taking a photo that captures an example that demonstrates the mobile Earth and the Earth as a flowing machine. Your image needs to show or convey movement of Earth material(s), or a landform or feature produced by materials movement, or evidence of a process or an agent that causes movement of Earth materials

The photograph needs to be accompanied with its (precise) location and up to 250 words that ‘show and tell’ the physical geography, describing the focus your example and explaining what it reveals and/or demonstrates about the mobile Earth, and how the movement happened.

For  more information visit - https://geography.org.uk/Physical-geography-student-photo-competition/ 

Deadline for entries 30th September 2023. 

Kerala Tourism is excited to introduce the third edition of the International Children's Online Painting Competition. The first two seasons were a roaring success with kids from across the globe sending in their creations.

The third season promises to be more exciting and entertaining. The theme of the competition is 'Kerala Village Life' and any child from any part of the world between the ages of 4 and 16 years can submit their entries online. Lucky winners will get a sponsored five-night family trip to visit major tourist destinations in Kerala.

Closing date for entries is 30th September 2023

For more information please visit - https://www.keralatourism.org/contest/icpc/ 

Write a story of up to 500 words based around the theme – ‘A day that changed the world.’

Your story can be about anything including what could or has changed the world. It can be based on real events, or fiction.

Maybe you wake up with super powers and save the world from child-eating underpants. Perhaps you turn into a cat, and while the world stays the same for everyone else, your world completely changes.

Maybe you’re inspired by historic events that changed the world, or perhaps you want to write about a day that could change the world in the future.

You can be as creative as you want, so long as your story is about a day that changed the world, you can create anything your imagination drums up.

For more information visit - https://www.settlestories.org.uk/whats_on/childrens_story-comp/ 

Closing date for entries is 29th September. 

The Sloth Lemur’s Song follows Madagascar over the past 250 million years. During its long journey to the present, Madagascar became an island and major changes took place in its location, relief, climates, vegetation and wildlife. The arrival of people around 10,000 years ago brought further, rapid changes that today threaten the survival of the island’s unique biodiversity.

Prof Alison Richard will draw on 50 years of experience to illustrate the fundamental role of community-based partnerships in conservation.

This free online lecutre is on 26th September at 6pm. 

To sign up to this lecture visit - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/living-madagascar-tickets-703269567207?aff=oddtdtcreator 

500 Words, the UK’s most successful children’s writing competition, opens on Tuesday 26 September and will run till Friday 10 November.

Children of all abilities are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to write a story they would love to read without the pressure of having to worry about spelling, punctuation and grammar.

Fore more information visit - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/500-words/about-500-words-collection/zj9b8p3 

Atom Learning is launching the second annual Young Author Award to celebrate the generation’s upcoming young writers. With the chance to win incredible prizes (including a trip to Disneyland and free Chromebooks!), it’s time to pick up a pen and get ready for a summer celebration of creativity! 

The theme for 2023 is 'If I were in charge for a day…'. Entrants must submit a creative response to this theme no more than 500 words.

All entrants must be aged between 7–11 on the day the competition closes (10th September 2023).

For more details visit - https://atomlearning.com/young-author-award 

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is one of the biggest and most established prizes for young people aged 11 – 17 in the world. If you’re an aspiring writer, enter your poems to the competition at foyleyoungpoets.org by 31 July 2023. 

It is free to enter, and you can submit as many poems as you like. Poems can be on any subject and any length.  

For more information visit - https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/

Write a Story, poem, article or letter on the subject of Animal Survival. 

Up to 500 Words. 

  Judging criteria: Originality, underlying ideas, how the writer engages and communicates, fresh views on a subject; entries will not be judged on spelling and grammar

 Deadline for submissions: 10th July 2022

  Overall winner: RSPB Puffin Binoculars and £50 book voucher

  Winner of each age category: £50 book voucher

For more information visit - https://www.henharrierday.uk/get-involved/young-wild-writers/ 

The To Hull and Back Humorous Short Story Competition, run by Christopher Fielden, is open to writers from around the world until 30th June 2023.

Stories should be no longer than 2500 words.

Prizes:

1st Prize- £1,200, your head on the To Hull And Back Anthology cover and a trip to Hull on a Harley Davidson

2nd Prize – £600

3rd Prize – £300

3 x Highly Commended – £150

14 x Shortlisted – £75

20 x Longlisted – 1 x free early bird entry fee for the next competition (worth £13)

Entry fees:

Early bird (until 31st March 2023): £13 for 1 story, £21 for 2 stories, £26 for 3 stories.

More details can be found here - https://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-competition/ 

Can you design a lorry to inspire people to enjoy healthy, sustainable food? Your design could cover an Aldi lorry and win your school £1,000! 

To celebrate the countdown to Paris 2024, Aldi, Team GB and ParalympicsGB are challenging young people aged 5–14 to get creative and design a lorry that inspires people to enjoy healthy, sustainable food. Three winners will see their designs on an Aldi lorry and there's a whole host of other prizes up for grabs, too!

Deadline for entries is Friday 23rd June 

For more information visit - https://www.getseteatfresh.co.uk/designalorry 

EYFS and Primary pupils are invited to learn all about ladybirds by designing and creating a 2D or 3D artwork inspired by these amazing insects.

Entries close on 20th June 2023

For more details visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/ladybird-art-competition.html 

ISA is challenging students of all ages to explore how waste items can be reused by creating recycled artworks on the theme of 'Planet Earth'.

Entries close on 7th June 2023 

For more details visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/recycled-art-challenge.html

At a time when many issues, from the climate crisis to the cost of living, feel out of control; abuses of power are happening throughout the world; and disinformation makes it hard to know who and what to believe:

Who or what is really in control, of our futures, our bodies, our communities, our countries, our planet?

This year, we want you to think and write critically and creatively about who or what controls aspects of the world we live in, how we might be able to find new ways to take control of our futures and most productively use the power that we have. 

The word count for your entry (up to 1000 words for years 8-11, and 1500 words for years 12-13).

For more information and to enter visit https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-youth-prize/abouttheyouthprize/introduction/ 

Deadline is 7th June 2023. 

This competition celebrates the visual art of handwriting. In an age that encourages the early adoption of keyboard skills, we wish to champion, nurture, and celebrate writing by hand.

Entries Close 1st June 2023 

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/handwriting-competition.html 

It’s free to enter and the top prize is £1,000! The winner will also be invited to join the judging panel for the 2024 YLPOTY! 

There are four categories to enter, with prizes for each category:

• Classic View

• Cityscapes

• Expressions/Impressions of the Landscape

• Coast

• Intimate View (Macro or Details)

 For more information and to enter visit https://www.lpoty.co.uk/competition/youth

The Band Competition is a chance for bands, groups and ensembles from ISA Members' schools to show off their musical talents. All musical styles are welcome. The competition is open to key stages 1-5.

Entries close on 24th May 2023

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/band-competition.html 

Celebration Day is a day of remembrance, that encourages us to pause, remember and celebrate the lives of people who are no longer with us. 

How you celebrate is up to you – you might decide to go on a walk somewhere that reminds you of your loved one, call a family member or friend, bake their favourite cake or listen to a record that reminds you of that person.

The deadline for the Celebration Day writing competition will be before Celebration Day, so get writing soon!

For more information visit - https://theday.co.uk/celebration-day-writing-competition/ 

WAR THROUGH CHILDREN’S EYES is a creative competition open to all children resident in the UK and aged between 7 and 17. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the impact of wars and violent conflicts on the communities caught up in them, and particularly on the most vulnerable members of those communities: their children. 

There are several prizes for both the Art and Writing sections of this competition. 

For more information and to enter visit - https://www.warthroughchildrenseyes.org.uk/

Deadline for entries is 15th May 

Can you write a terrific scientific poem? IF Oxford is seeking budding poets aged 5 – 16 years to become wondrous wordsmiths and enter the seventh annual Poetry of Science competition this spring. 

Your poem should be a maximum of 150 words and can be in any poetry style you like and doesn’t have to rhyme. How about trying one of these poem types:

• limerick

• haiku

• acrostic poem

• rap

• sonnet

Your poem should have something to do with science and great ideas. It could be about:

• a scientific idea or discovery

• a science lesson or experiment

• a scientific issue that is important to you

For more information or to enter visit https://if-oxford.com/poetry-competition/  

The ISA Digital Art Competition is a chance for you to showcase you creative skills using digital technology. Works can be drawn digitally, or created using photo editing. There is no theme, so you are free to explore whatever subject interest you.

Entries Close on 27th April 2023. 

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/digital-art-competition.html 

Do you have the creativity to write a great robot story?

This is your chance you show off your imagination and take the readers on an adventure into the world of robotics and intelligent machines.

This competition is looking for exciting, intriguing, and thoughtful short stories all about robots.

Write your robot story in your preferred word processing software.

Your robot tale needs to be about 800 words long and can be in any genre you like (e.g action, thriller, comedy, mystery). Make sure you include a beginning, middle and an end.

For more information and how to enter visit - https://www.ukras.org.uk/school-robot-competition/write

Deadline for Entries is 23rd April. 

This talk will be held in-person in Burlington House as well as live-streamed on Zoom.  

Peter Wohlleben, author of Sunday Times bestseller, 'The Hidden Life of Trees', compares tree planting to battery farming and argues that trees will survive environmental disaster but suggests that we won’t be around to see that happen if we don’t make changes now. Wohlleben describes astonishing discoveries about how trees pass knowledge down to succeeding generations and their ability to survive climate change and is unsparing in his criticism of those who wield economic and political power — who plant trees exclusively for the sake of logging and virtue signaling — even as they ruthlessly exploit nature. 

To book tickets for this free event taking place on Sunday 23rd April at 17:00 visit https://members.linnean.org/events/63e130957dc0e8000722811e/description 

It is 70 years since the discovery of the structure of DNA – the blueprint for life. DNA is the basis for all life. Whatever we look like, however happy we are and whatever health we enjoy is at least in some part down to our DNA. And not just us! Every living thing on the planet also has DNA at the core of its survival.

 “It’s Alive!” is completely open to interpretation and could incorporate illustrations of plants, animals, fungi or germs. It could involve health or disease, biodiversity and sustainability requirements or delve into the science within us – maybe digestion or circulation. Whatever the angle or inspiration, the more creative the better!

Closing Date is 21st April. 

For more information and to enter visit https://www.bayer.co.uk/en/bsw-competition

2022 marks the centenary of Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Inspired by this milestone, ISA is challenging pupils to experiment with materials and create a 2D or 3D work inspired by Ancient Egyptian art. Open to all ages.

Closing Date for Entries is 20th April 2023 

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/ancient-egyptian-art-challenge.html

The London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF), the Financial Times (FT) and their Financial Literary and Inclusion Campaign (FLIC) are pleased to announce the launch of the Young Financial Journalist competition 2002/23! They are seeking well-argued articles from students aged 14-19 for this joint competition.

Winning entries will be published on the LIBF’s website: www.libf.ac.uk and may also be published on FT.com and/or in an edition of FT Money. The winner of each age group will also receive a £150 cash prize.

Deadline for Entries is 14th April 2023. 

For more information and to enter visit - https://www.libf.ac.uk/study/financial-education/student-zone/young-financial-journalist

Pitch magazine is pleased to announce the launch of the Young Sports Journalist competition 2023! They are seeking well-argued articles from students aged 14-24 for this joint competition. 

The winning entry for each category will be: -

• Published in Pitch magazine.

• Featured on the website.

• Paid a handy £150 cash prize.

For more information and to enter visit - https://www.pitch-mag.co.uk/young-sports-journalist-competition.php

Deadline is 7th April. 

The theme this year is ‘Connections’, so there are loads of STEM topics that could be explored! How about exploring how our body parts are all connected and work together, the connection between our actions and the impact on our environment, or even how internet connection has changed the world.

Deadline for Entries is 31st March. 

For more information and to enter visit https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/ 

Human and animal lives are so closely interlinked. In celectration of this connectivity we want you to share, use your creativity, your thoughts, images and exanples of that wonderful bond between us and animals. 

Deadline for entries is 31st March. 

For more information and to enter visit https://www.humanimaltrust.org.uk/get-involved/humanimal-trust-creative-awards-2023 

This competition is an opportunity for 11-18 year olds in the UK to share an original story idea with the BBC.

Winning stories will be produced with the help of BBC journalists, producers and programme makers for broadcast on TV, radio, online or on social media.

There is just one story category: Me and My World

What story idea do you think the BBC should be reporting?

The story should be original: something that hasn’t been widely reported on before, or that can help bring a new and unique angle to a subject.

It can be a personal story, or something related to the experience of a young person’s family, friends or community, or an issue or experience particularly relevant to young people.

 Deadline for Entires is Friday 31st March. 

More information on how to enter can be found here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/competition/zghcydm 

This writing competition organised by Chiktern Bookshops is open to entries from children from Reception up to Year 11. 

There are four different categories which each feature this years theme which is Holidays! 

Deadline for entries is 31st March. 

To enter and for more details visit - https://chilternbookshops.co.uk/schools/childrens-creative-writing-comp-2023/

Transforming sustainably is essential for Bayer and sustainability is an essential part of the curriculum. The Baylab would like to give students an incentive to put their knowledge into action by offering them a real-world brief to challenge their scientific and creativity skills. 

We are challenging students to find sustainable packaging, using one of our products as an example. Students are encouraged to think about the design, what the packaging must do and of course it’s impact on the environment, all whilst maintaining the integrity and safety of the product itself. 

Get up to four students together, think of a Team Name and get designing 

Deadline for entries is 31st March. 

For more information of to enter visit https://www.bayer.co.uk/en/baylab-packaging-competition 

This new competition invites EYFS and KS1 pupils to work together to create a short story with the theme 'The Adventure'. The winning stories will be published in a book!

Closing date for entries is 31st March 2023

For more details visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/young-storytellers-competition.html 

EYFS-KS2 pupils are invited to design and decorate a 3D egg to celebrate Easter.

Entries close on 22nd March 2023

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/easter-egg-competition.html 

The BBC Young Writers’ Award with Cambridge University invites young people in the UK aged between 14 -18 years to submit short stories of up to 1,000 words. 

The Deadline for Entries is 20th March. 

More details and how to enter can be found here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2cslf9QxZKznVCqplBS0SY0/the-2023-bbc-young-writers-award-submissions-open 

This annual competition asks you to share your perspectives by submitting your fantastic:

• Artwork

• Poems

• Speeches

• Songs

However, unlike previous competitions, which were inspired by broader themes such as ‘Life After Conflict’, this year, they are looking for answers to a specific question - what does war mean to you?

For more details on this inspiration competition please visit - https://www.neversuchinnocence.com/2022-23-competition 

Deadline for entries is 10th March 2023. 

The Community Art Competition challenges KS3-5 students to create an artwork celebrating inclusivity, diversity and togetherness. 

Students must work collaboratively to create a work, in any medium they choose, which will benefit their school or local community.

Closing Date for Entries - 28th February 2023 

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/community-art-competition.html

There’s a chill in the air, the leaves have fallen and the nights are growing longer; winter is upon us.

How do you spend your winter days? Perhaps waiting for the snow to go sledding, or huddling in front of the fire with a delicious hot chocolate. Will you be eagerly awaiting Santa on Christmas Eve? What will be your New Year’s resolution? What about nature during this frosty time?

Your poem could be about the animals deep in hibernation or the bare trees waiting for spring to arrive. For many, this season is a time for family, friends, and kindness as well as overindulgence and parties!

Deadline for entries is 28th February 2023. 

For more information visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/all-ages/winter-wonderland

The three age groups are:

Junior – 5-10 years old

Intermediate – 11-14 years old

Senior – 15-18 years old

Choose ONE of the following:

1.   A poem or story about a broken promise

2.   A poem or story about keeping promises

3.   A description of a character that makes promises

• Your writing should invoke the spirit of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales.

Closing Date for entries is 28th February 2023

For more details visit - http://chaucer.org.uk/the-canterbury-tales-writing-competition-2022-23-promises-promises/ 

What do you care about? What makes you happy or frustrates you? What would you change?

Express yourself in the world of Poetry.

For more information on this competition visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/KS3-5/power-of-poetry

Closing Date for entries is 10th February 2023.

Let's start 2023 the way we mean to go on... by becoming eco poets and helping to share views about nature and the environment!

With climate change being a focus in education, it’s a fantastic opportunity for you to share your thoughts on the world around you.

Poems can be in any style and link to the environment in many cross-curricular ways, from litter, pollution and wildlife, to sustainability, conservation or exploring nature & local landscapes.

For more information visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/KS1/bgpm

Closing date for entries is 10th February 2023.

The Global Canvas competition is free to enter and open to groups or individuals aged 4-16 years with judging split 4-7 years, 8-11 years and 12-16 years. Group and individual entries will be judged separately.

2023 Theme: “Biodiversity – the complex web of life”

Closing date for entries 10th February 2023

For more details visit - https://davidshepherd.org/enter-global-canvas-2023

The competition is to create art about measurements in health and disease.

To give you some ideas, your art could look at:

What sort of things might get measured at your GP practice and hospital? Height, weight, your temperature… what else can you think of?

For more information visit - https://cpm.well.ox.ac.uk/art-competition

Deadline for entries 20th January 2023.

The ISA Comic Strip Competition encourages pupils to create their own storyboard or cartoon as a means of exploring a topical subject. This competition is open to key stages 1-5, and there are different themes for each age group.

Closing date for entries is 10th January 2023.

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/comic-strip-competition.html

For young passionate photographers aged under 19 years-old, first prize is top Sony digital imaging equipment

Deadline for Entries 6th January 2023

For more information and how to enter visit - https://www.worldphoto.org/sony-world-photography-awards/youth

A fantastic opportunity for pupils at ISA Members’ schools to showcase their poetry writing skills and have their work read by a renowned poet. Open to Key Stages 1-5.

Closing Date for Entries 13th December 2022

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/creative-writing/poetry-competition.html

The long-standing ISA Young Musician Competition celebrates the talent and passion for music performance that exists with our members’ schools. This competition offers an exciting opportunity for students to perform and support their peers at a live music concert. Open to Key Stages 1-5. 

Closing date for Entries is 8th December 2022. 

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/isa-young-musician-competition.html 

The New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2022 is open until November 30th, 2022.

They are looking for entries of 300 words or less, on any subject or theme.

Entry fee: £6. £1 from each entry will also be donated to First Story (England’s leading creative writing charity for young people).

Prizes:

1st – £700

2nd – £200

3rd – £100

For more details visit - https://newwriters.org.uk/flash-fiction/

The Anansi Archive Writing awards run in three categories throughout the year. All categories are open-themed. Closing date for all is 30th November

Poetry

Up to 500 words, Entry fee: £1 per entry, Prize: First £20, runner-up £10

Flash Fiction

Up to 500 words, Entry fee: £1 per entry, Prize: First £20, runner-up £10

Short Fiction

Up to 3,000 words, Entry fee: £3 per entry, Prize: First £50, runner-up £20

For more details on all competitions visit https://www.anansiarchive.co.uk/competitions/

The East Riding Festival of Words poetry competition is now open for entries. This year's theme is 'My wonderful world'. Entries will be judged by a panel of published Yorkshire poets, led by James Nash.

Your poem should be no more than 45 lines, on one side of A4 paper. There are three categories, adults, primary school aged children (4 years to 10 years) and secondary school aged children (11 years to 16 years) 

Closing date for entries is 30th November 2022.

For more details visit - https://www.festivalofwords.co.uk/poetry-comp/

Design a poster and have it displayed nation-wide on digital screens as well as win some great prizes including an iPad for the winner in each age category!

Design and create a portrait poster to persuade and inspire young people to become more active and fit during the summer months. Your design could be about a particular sport, activity or challenge – or a combination – that you love or an activity that is more easily pursued during the summertime.

Deadline for entries is Friday 25th November 2022

For more details visit - https://oodlesof.info/poster/#about

Imagine a world without wheat… No bread, no cakes, no pasta and no beer. With wheat providing over 20% of the calories and protein consumed globally each day, a wheat-free future may seem inconceivable, but today, the world’s wheat supplies are being ravaged by a dangerous epidemic. Professor Diane Saunders will introduce you to the notorious “polio of agriculture”, the wheat rusts, that throughout history has endangered the production of one of our oldest and most precious food crops.

This free lecture can be watched online on 22nd November 6.30-7.30.

For more information visit -  https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2022/11/rosalind-franklin-lecture/

In this festive competition, pupils are invited to design the official ISA email signature banner for Christmas. Open to students EYFS-KS2.

Entries Close on 22nd November 2022

For more information visit - https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-arts-eyfs-and-primary/christmas-banner-competition.html

The COVID-19 pandemic (not to mention the threat of monkeypox) has given us an unfortunate reminder of the destabilizing potential of emerging infectious diseases. This free online lecture by Kyle Harper is on November 9th at 6pm.

For more details visit - https://members.linnean.org/events/6324b0781f58850007554706/description

The Solstice Prize is an annual showcase for young writers, seeking imaginative short stories and provocative poems, with prizes on offer for winners in three age groups: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-17.

Closing Date for Entries is 31st October.

For more information visit - https://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/young-writers-groups/solstice-prize/

A great poetry competition to celebrate National Poetry Day.

The closing date for entries is 21st October. For more information visit - https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions/KS1/poetry-stars 

This competition is open to all and has been chosen to coincide with NATIONAL POETRY DAY, which falls within World Space Week on 6th October 2022.

All you have to do is to write a poem – whatever you like – it could be a Cinquain, Limerick, Ode, Haiku, Villanelle, Ballad, Sonnet etc etc

The poem needs to link to the theme of Space and Sustainability.

The closing date of entries is 15th October. 

For more information visit - https://www.bis-space.com/events/wsw/

In this prize lecture, Professor Sophie Scott will explore the science of laughter, how laughter has evolved, its functions in mammals, and the ways that humans use laughter. Professor Scott will show how laughter is used to communicate much more than humour, and the importance of laughter in our social interactions. We will also explore the neural basis of laughter, and the varying ways in which we process laughter.

This free online lecture is on 11th October 7pm - 8pm.

For more information visit - https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2022/10/faraday-prize-lecture/

Christmas is coming early and we are asking children across the UK to create the most Christmassy Christmas card ever!

Asda’s Design a Christmas Card competition is running throughout September 2022 and is open to primary school children (ages 4-11 years).

Entries close 10th October 2022.

For more details visit - https://www.asda.com/creating-change-for-better/better-lives/supporting-local-communities/children-in-need

Entrants can put their best ideas down on paper, and the winners will receive 4 tickets to LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort.

To be in with a chance of winning, simply submit a drawing showcasing your upcycling idea. Be as imaginative as you like!

Deadline for Entries 10th October 2022.

To find out more details visit - https://brandonhirestation.com/blog/brandon-hire-station-hosts-nationwide-competition-to-find-children-with-the-magic-touch

This free-to-enter category is part of the Young Amateur Photographer of the Year 2022 awards, open to photographers aged 13-21.

Although street photography is easily accessible to most, it’s probably one of the most challenging genres to capture. Paying attention to the everyday movements of folk as they go about their business and spotting the extraordinary within the mundane is one thing, but capturing a scene unfold in front of you at the perfect moment is another.

Entries close on 7th October

For more details visit - https://www.photocrowd.com/photo-competitions/street-young-apoy-1-Street-photo-contest-14320/

Throughout the pandemic our ability to travel near or afar has been severely limited. This year, to encourage young people to widen their geographical horizons, whether locally or much further afield, the Society is asking pupils where, how and why.

Closing date for entries is Monday 3rd October 2022

For more details visit - https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/young-geographer-of-the-year/2022-competition/

The Bridport Prize Memoir Award is open to writers of any nationality writing in English, until 30 September 2022.

Entry fee: £24

1st prize: £1,500, plus a mentoring package

Runner-up: £750

Highly commended: £150

Word count: 5,000 – 8,000.

For more information visit - https://bridportprize.org.uk/

The Henshaw Short Story Competition 2022 is open until 30th September 2022.

Young writers, aged 16 and under, will receive a free critique on their entry!

Prizes: 1st £200, 2nd £100, 3rd £50

Entry fee: £6 by PayPal or by Cheque to G. Jennings

Entry requirements: A short story on any subject up to 2000 words.

Results announced by the end of October 2022

For more details visit - https://www.henshawpress.co.uk/

The Patricia Eschen Prize for Poetry is open for entries until September 30th.

It’s free to enter and open to all poets from across the globe. Poems should be no longer than 40 lines.

Prizes:

Children (under 16)

1st – £150

2nd – £100

3rd – £50

For more information visit - https://morrablibrary.org.uk/poetryprize/

The Crowvus Christmas Ghost Story Competition is open until 30th September.

It is open to all ages and ghost stories do not necessarily need to be scary.

Word limit: 4000 words maximum.

Entry fees

Free for children up to the age of 16.

Prizes

Children: 1st prize – £50 gift card

For more details visit - https://www.crowvus.com/competition

The Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2022 is open to writers across the globe, until September 30th 2022 at 4pm (GMT).

Stories do not need to follow any particular theme or genre, but must be written in English.

Maximum word count is 3000 words.

1st prize: £1000, plus a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice and publication on our site.

2 runners-up: £200 each.

Entry fee: £9.

Final judge: Kerry Hadley-Pryce.

For more details visit - https://creativewritingink.co.uk/creative-writing-ink-short-story-competition-2022/

The competition aims to encourage writers of any age.

There is no charge to enter the competition.

All entrants should be resident in the United Kingdom.

All entries must be the entrant’s original work.

Deadline for entries is 30th September.

For more information visit - https://otterywriters.wordpress.com/writing-competition-rules-2022/

The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is one of the biggest and most established prizes for young people aged 11 – 17 in the world. If you’re an aspiring writer, enter your poems to the competition by 31 July 2022.

For more information visit - https://poetrysociety.org.uk/competitions/foyle-young-poets-of-the-year-award/

A global art initiative in aid of conservation.

You can be a part of Junior Sketch for Survival 2022 by entering our art competition. There are three age categories.

The short-listed art selected from all submissions will be exhibited in London & Manchester, as well as competing for our awards.

The deadline for entries is 30th June 2022.

For more information visit - https://explorersagainstextinction.co.uk/initiatives/sketch-for-survival/junior-sketch-for-survival/

Calling all budding designers! We’re looking for sports-themed images for the covers of ISA Sport’s 2022/23 programmes.

Closing Date - 22nd June 2022.

More information available here

(https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/cover-design-competition)

The 2022 Ocean Awareness Contest challenges students to learn about climate change and its impact on the ocean, and to explore new ways to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis.

They are looking for innovative pieces that challenge expectations for what climate change messaging should look like. How can you talk about climate change in a fresh way? How can you capture attention without sacrificing your message?

More details can be found here - https://bowseat.org/programs/ocean-awareness-contest/contest-overview/

Closing Date is 13th June.

The fourth Close-up Photographer of the Year (CUPOTY) is now open for entries!

Put your best close-up, macro and micro photographs in front of our expert jury and a global audience to help them see the world anew.

Deadline for Entries - 12th June 2022.

For more information visit - https://www.cupoty.com/category-details/#Young-category

One of the key attributes of historical fiction is that it has a convincing setting in a past time and place. You can set your story in ANY* period or place in the past, so the story can fit in with and extend any historical topic you may be studying.

Judges are looking for:

• Historical accuracy – even down to the choice of names characters are given and any props additional to the historical setting

• A riveting read with a good plot!

• A convincing story - i.e. is it plausible that these events and/or this character could have existed at the time?

• Use of historical knowledge to feed the plot, context and character

• Effective use of historical vocabulary and literary conventions, including where dialogue is included in the story

• Creative and interesting perspectives of story-telling. In the past we have received an entry telling the story of a siege from the perspective of the castle!

• We recommend a minimum story length of 400 words and this year for the first time we have decided to include a maximum word legth of 3500 words. We regret that entries that go over this word limit may not be considered.

For more information please visit - https://www.history.org.uk/secondary/categories/531/news/3451/write-your-own-historical-fiction-competition-2022

Closing date for entries 3rd June 2022

The main aim of several missions to Mars is to determine whether life evolved on our small red neighbour. These missions will determine if organic compounds are present in the soils and rocks of Mars, and eventually return samples to Earth for detailed study. However, martian rocks are already present on Earth in the form of meteorites, and these rocks are known to contain organic compounds. During this talk they will outline what can we learn from these meteorites, and how can they help our investigations at the martian surface. 

This free online lecture is led by Lydia Hallis from the University of Glasgow on 2nd June at 6pm.

For more information or to book your place visit - https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/06-gsl-public-lecture-june

This competition celebrates the visual art of handwriting.

The deadline for this competition is 2nd June 2022.

More information at -

(https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-primary)

The competition is open to any child in the UK, aged 16 or under and will be judged in three age categories:

• School Year 2 and below (i.e. Key Stage 1)

• School Years 3 – 6 (i.e. Key Stage 2)

• School Years 7 – 11 (i.e. Key Stages 3 and 4)

The winning poet and two runners up from each age category will:

• have poems published in a special Festival anthology

• attend a celebratory event in Oxford in October

• perform poems in front of a live audience

• meet professional poets

• receive prizes including poetry books and science kits

The closing date is Wednesday 2st June 2022.

For more information visit - https://if-oxford.com/poetry-competition/

We are looking for young people to help us spread the word on the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO), the silent killer and enter a competition that could see them win top cash prizes for themselves and their school or organisation.

We’re looking for all different types of entries from children aged between 5 and 11. Submissions could range from any form of media, such as:

• • Eye-catching cartoons and videos

  • Models

  • Short stories or poems

  • Leading assemblies at school or your local Cubs or Brownie group

  • Making a fact sheet to share with your family and virtually with friends

The closing date for entries is 27th May 2022.

For more information and to enter visit - https://www.thecocrew.co.uk/competition

An opportunity has become avilable to take part in an engineering work experience week from Monday 11th - Friday 15th July 2022 at Air Products European Headquarters - Hersham

Five FULL days of engineering activities

• Gain useful experience to put towards a career in chemical,

mechanical and electrical engineering.

• Discover how different engineering disciplines and

business areas work together as a team on real life

projects.

• Spend a day exploring operating plants.

• CV and employability workshops.

• Develop essential skills valued by employers.

• Shadow a real-life Air Products engineer.

• Learn about the experiences of recent engineering

graduates and current students.

If you are interested contact awyllie@dokschool.org before the closing date on 27th May.

In young, dynamic, mountain regions, such as those in the Himalayan Region and the Andes, communities must deal with geological processes that occur almost on a weekly and certainly a seasonal basis.  On top of this are the less frequent but often far more catastrophic disasters associated with earthquakes, and devastating floods from outbursts from glacial lakes, landslide dams, and from intense rainstorms.  Couple all this with the impact of a changing climate and we have a recipe for environments with very active geological and slope processes that can destroy the very fabric of the local society and influence the economic performance of entire countries.

This free online lecture is led by Professor John Reynolds on 25th May at 6pm.

For more information or to book your place visit - https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/05-gsl-public-lecture-may

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open. Entrants are invited to finish this story begun by last year’s Branford Boase Award winner, author of thrilling fantasy adventure Orphans of the Tide, Struan Murray.

Closing date for entries is 22nd May 2022.

For more information visit - https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/2022-hbwc-details/

This years theme is:-

A Whole New World:  A positive insight into our future.

Children and adults around the world can submit creative entries (This could be a painting, drawing, illustration, graphic art, comics, poetry or similar) based on their responses to the theme.

The creative art pieces must also include a reflective explanation of your submission – maximum 200 words outlining why you chose it and what it means to you personally and how it reflects the theme of “A Whole New World”.

Closing date is 22nd May 2022.

For more information visit - https://ukts.org/art-terms/

The ISA Film and Digital Art Competition is held annually. It is a fantastic opportunity to use both creative and technical skills combined to produce art works in the digital genre. The three categories, Computer Animation, Short Film, and Digital Art, offer a range of ways for you to showcase their work.

Closing date for entries is 12th May 2020.

More information can be found here

(https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/art/film-and-digital-art)

If you are interested in entering contact awyllie@dokschool.org

During the first week of the summer term, a team of three students from Year 7, 8 and 9 competed in the World Scholar's Cup hosted by St Teresa's School. 

• Year 7 - Edie H, Mercy M, Tildy C

• Year 8 - Matilda R, Xander S, Lucy M

• Year 9 - Luke M, Violetta P, Kai G

Over the course of the two day competition, pupils took part in a variety of different events including Debating, Scholar's Challenge, Collaborative Writing, Scholar's Bowl, Scholar's Show and Debate Showcase.  

The teams found the Scholar's Challenge, a version of a multiple choice quiz particularly hard, however they excelled at the Collaborative writing task. In the afternoon of day 1, pupils took part in the Team Debates with our Year 7 and 8 teams winning  two of their three debates against other schools and the Year 9 team winning all their three debates with one of them being against a team of Sixth formers. 

On the second day as part of the Scholar's Bowl an additional challenge for members from each school was to balance a toy alpaca (the 'Mascot' for the World Scholar's Cup) on their head. Edie took to this challenge like a duck to water and successfully completed several challenges against the other schools to win an extremely prized large toy alpaca! 

The afternoon for the second day concluded with a debate showcase where the best debaters from the first day demonstrated their skills in one final debate. This featured Luke and Matilda being chosen for the debate and Mercy taking on the role as one of the Judges. Following on from this the Scholars show completed the day during which scholars could volunteer to demonstrate a talent. As part of this Tildy and Edie did a wonderful rendition of Lava from Disney. 

As part of the awards ceremony all our pupils did brilliantly and won both silver and gold awards for many parts of the competition, far to many to mention individually. However it is important to mention Luke M who took the overall Gold medal for debating, Violetta who took the overall Gold medal for the writing challenge as well as becoming the reserve overall Scholar and our Year 9 Debating team who won the competition. All of our teams also qualified for the global round of the World Scholar's Cup

Overall the pupils did amazingly well, enjoyed both days, and took a lot away from all aspects of the competition. It was also great to see the pupils collaborating and socialising with pupils from other local schools, as well as competing against them.

The Music Composition Competition offers you an opportunity to explore the enchanting realm of music making. This competition emphasises both mathematical and creative thinking. You will need to think mathematically when putting together melodies and rhythms, but also creatively when searching for something that hasn’t been done before, or unique lyrics to fit the feeling you’re trying to convey.

The closing date for entries is 28th April 2022

If you would like to enter contact awyllie@dokschool.org

More details can be found here (https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/music/music-composition-competition)

You are challenged to research and choose an NHS career that interests you.

Once chosen, you must create materials to promote it, starting with a job description to capture key responsibilities, along with any qualifications, skills and experience needed.

This learning is then used to create a fun and lively job advert. You can enter individually or in teams of up to four.

Entries must be received no later than Saturday 30 April 2022.

If you are interested in entering please contact awyllie@dokschool.org

More information can be found here - https://www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk/secondary-schools/KS3-competition 

George Orwell was a political writer: he wrote movingly about the importance of our relationship with the natural world and the destruction of the environment. But he also paid close attention to social justice and the importance of language in shaping how we see the world.

This year, the judges want you to think and write critically and creatively about how the climate crisis affects the people, places, and things around you. How will our impact on the environment affect the places you know? What will the impact be on human beings around the world?

For more details about the competition and how to enter visit - https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-youth-prize/2018-youth-prize/introduction/

Closing date for entries 22nd April 2022

The Author of Tomorrow is designed to find the adventure writers of the future. Part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, it is an annual competition open to young people across the world who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English.

Prizes

11 and Under | 500 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school

12-15 years | 1,500 - 5,000 words | Prize: £100 plus £150 book tokens for your school

For more information on competition details - https://www.wilbur-niso-smithfoundation.org/awards/author-of-tomorrow-2019

The closing date for entries is 22nd April 2022.

If space is your passion then this is the competition/opportunity for you.

During the 4th - 8th July Mullard's Space Science Laboratory will hosting a science week. You will have the opportunity to visit a world leading lab, hear from expert scientists and engineers working on missions with NASA and ESA.

To enter email p.elwell@ucl.ac.uk with a cover letter and your CV.

Closing date is 22nd April 2022

The theme for British Science Week 2022 poster competition is ‘Growth’. Your poster could explore a tadpole’s journey into a fully grown adult frog, or look at the ways population growth is affecting the planet.

Here’s the lowdown on what the judges will be looking for:

• Creativity in approach – Innovative angle on the content or creative interpretation of the theme

• Content – Clear, accurate and informative about a STEM topic

• Effective communication – presented and communicated in an engaging way

For more information visit - https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/

The closing date for entries is 15th April 2022

Many of us buy fairtrade coffee, tea or bananas, but how many of us think about the origin of the raw materials in our manufactured goods?

We may look for a forestry stewardship council tag on wooden furniture, but are less likely to enquire about complex products such as cars or computers. With their thousands of components and long supply chains, responsible sourcing of these goods is difficult to assure but is just as important. Geologists sit right at the beginning of these supply chains and there is much that we can do to be involved in the responsible sourcing agenda.

This free online lecture is led by Frances Wall from the University of Exeter on 14th April at 6pm.

For more information and to book you place visit - https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/04-postponed-gsl-public-lecture-apr-2020

An action packed and fun-filled show. Enjoy one hour of back to back brilliant science experiments with everything from flying potatoes, electrifying Barbie, exploding cotton, glowing gherkins, the flying magic carpet to giant smoke rings! A thrilling interactive show for the whole family, not to be missed.

On Wednesday 13th April 2022 10.30-11.30 in Cranleigh.

To book tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-supersonic-science-show-tickets-257252147097#:~:text=About%20this%20event-,The%20Supersonic%20Science%20Show,carpet%20to%20giant%20smoke%20rings!

Some say he was Scotland's greatest author

Some say his fables were amongst his greatest work

So here is YOUR chance. In no more than 350 words enter our Fable Competition to write a 21st Century Fable in the style of the great master, Robert Louis Stevenson

Entries must not exceed 350word.

For more information visit - https://www.mrrls.com/fable

Closing date for Entries 2nd April 2022

Following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Nottingham Writers’ Studio launched the ‘George Floyd Short Story Competition’ in remembrance and in protest against his senseless death.

In that same spirit of protest, we are proud to launch the next chapter. From November 26th 2021 to March 31st 2022 the second year of the competition will be taking stories of up to 5,000 words on the theme of ‘EARTH 2.0’

Entrants are free to write in any genre, even take contrarian views, but it must be original work.

This competition is open to all as we welcome the experiences of advocates and allies as well as voices from the black community.

For more information visit - https://www.nottinghamwritersstudio.co.uk/the-george-floyd-short-story-competition/

Closing Date for Entries is 31st March 2022

Report on a story or issue that is important to you life or the world around you– it could be a personal story or related to the experience of your family, friends or community, or about an issue or experience.

For more information visit here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/young-reporter/competition/zghcydm

Closing date for entries is 27th March 2022.

This competition is not yet open, however get drawing and practicing creating an egg to celebrate Easter. The deadline for this competition is Tuesday 22nd March 2022. More information can be found here (https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/isa-primary)

Do you want to be the next space explorer or are you a climate change hero? Have you got an idea that will transform people’s lives?

The Competition is free and open to all students aged 11 to 19 studying in the UK. Competitors can only enter one project, either on their own or as part of a team.  

For more information visit - https://www.thebigbang.org.uk/the-big-bang-competition/ 

Deadline is 20th March 

If you would like to enter this competition contact - awyllie@dokschool.org

Brick by brick, life must be rebuilt after a conflict. It takes time to recover and resolutions may or may not be found. Countries and communities that were divided or destroyed need time to heal, to be reimagined, or sometimes even abandoned. For some, a parent, child or family member might be injured or not return at all. As time passes, community events, memorials and days of remembrance are held to honour those who were lost and provide opportunities for reflection.

Share your thoughts on how people, communities and countries build a life after conflict using poetry, art, speech and song. 

For more information on this great competition that you can enter in a huge number of different ways visit - https://www.neversuchinnocence.com/2021-22-competition 

Closing Date for entries is 18th March 2022

Sixty years ago, the plate tectonics revolution brought to light the dynamic nature of the earth's interior, with rising hot molten rock forming new crust at mid-ocean ridges and cold, thickened tectonic plates returning to the mantle at so-called subduction zones.  We now understand that plate motions are driven by internal currents of matter that serve to evacuate heat accumulated deep in our planet at the time of its formation, or through persistent decay of radioactive elements scattered within it. 

This free online lecture will be led by Barbara Romanowicz from the University of California. 

This lecture will be on Thursday 11th March at 6pm. For more detail and to book your place visit - https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/expired/03-gsl--A-voyage-through-the-Earths-Deep-Interior 

This is a single, one-hour paper that is suitable for Year 11 students (GCSE, Standard Grade or equivalent level). The paper includes multiple-choice and short answer sections that aim to test students’ knowledge and understanding of basic physics principles. The paper is suitable for students who have studied GCSE Science + Additional Science or GCSE Physics or equivalent.

Over 6000 students take part in the competition each year.

The compeition will take place on Friday 11th March (deadline to enter is Monday 7th March).

If you would like to take part please contact awyllie@dokschool.org

Write a short story which must either present a positive vision of what a sustainable society might look like or include green solutions/policies/characters in the context of an otherwise mainstream story. It does NOT have to have an explicitly green theme, as green solutions can be smuggled in quite subtly

Entry to this competition is free but entrants must show they have read at least one chapter from successfully published pieces from the Green Stories project that provide an example of entertaining mainstream fiction that meets the criteria of showing green solutions (not just problems) that readers can engage with.

For more details please visit - https://www.greenstories.org.uk/upcoming-competitions/short-stories-competition-for-under-18s-deadline-march-2022/

The closing date is the 3rd March 2022

Shakespeare’s plays are full of spine-tingling moments when characters speak directly to the audience and tell them their inner feelings and desires. Choose a monologue and learn it off by heart or produce an original monologue based on a Shakespeare character. Simply film your performance and let awyllie@dokschool.org know that you would like to enter.

Closing Date is 2nd March 2022

More details can be found here (https://www.isaschools.org.uk/arts/drama/shakespeare-monologue-competition)

The disappearance of Agatha Christie, the Mona Lisa’s smile, Banksy; These are some of the most famous, sometimes infamous, enigmas in history. Whether it’s the Mary Celeste’s missing crew, the Famous Five exploring a treasure island or the nasty thing lurking in Cold Comfort Farm’s woodshed, mysteries have always fascinated us.

For the 2022 Elmbridge Literary Competition, The R C Sherriff Trust and Elmbridge Borough Council are looking for short stories and poems that unravel riddles, disentangle conundrums and resolve enigmas.

For more details on how to enter visit - https://www.rcsherrifftrust.org.uk/elmbridge-literary-competition

Closing date for entries is 28th February 2022