Competitions
Competitions are a great way to help your teen focus on something that interests them and do something a little different from others. There are lots of competitions online: writing fiction, creating fashion, submitting essays, creative, science, cookery as well as many relating to curriculum activities.
We’ve listed a few below as a starting point, but with a little online research, your teen’s bound to find a competition specific to their personal interests.
Some competitions may require a little effort for entry, others may require a lot. Working to a specification, creating something that meets that specification and working to a deadline (in this case, the competition close date) demonstrates terrific transferable skills.
Entry is great to include on CVs, personal statements or to talk about in interviews. If they win or are acknowledged as a good entry, it can be a great confidence booster. However, win or no win, entering a competition demonstrates initiative, intellectual curiosity, drive, research skills, preparation and organisation. These are all desirable skills and should be the primary focus when including them in applications or talking about them in interviews.
Art
Royal Academy of Arts – Young Artists summer show – deadline 29 March 2023 – schools must register
Business / economics
Durham University Economics Society Essay Competition - deadline 25 April (sixth form)
Cookery
Junior Bake off – deadline 12 March 2023 (age 9-12)
Fashion / Design
Young Fashion Designer UK – deadline Monday 15th May (studying fashion/textiles at GCSE or sixth form)
Film / Photography
Childnet Film Competition 2023 – deadline 1 June 2021 (11-19) – theme finding trustworthy information online
RSPCA photography competition – opens May 2021 (12-15 or 16-18)
Wimbledon Shorts – deadline 19 July 2021 (under 25)
Literature
Author of Tomorrow – deadline 30 April 2021 (16-21 years)
Foyle Young Poet of the Year, The Poetry Society – deadline 31 Jul 2021 (age 11-17)
Science / Maths
Big Bang Competition (for STEM) – (age 11-19)
Space Foundation – International student art contest
Assorted
If you’d like to know other ways your child can stand out from others and improve their chances of success at interviews, read our suggestions in The Parents’ Guide to Standing out from the crowd. It includes sections on:
Self-development and increasing confidence;
Getting work experience (including virtual placements);
Benefits of research and how to take a different approach;
How different hobbies impact mental and physical health Transferrable skills
Recommendations for non-curricular online courses