The Creative Writing Challenge Results
The Winners
First Place
'Growing up, colourised' by Kiera Talmage, Cirencester College
Second Place
'Dysphoria' by Kayleigh Saunders, Cirencester College
Third Place
'Did you see him?' by Talia Northam, New College, Swindon
Fourth Place
'Perfect' by Amelia Green, Faringdon Community College
Special Recognition Award
'Glasses' by Eleanor Wingfield, Sir William Romney School
Highly Commended
'A blessing in disguise' by Yasmin Armstrong, Dorcan Academy
'The broken world we live in' by Carolina Margarido, Swindon College
'Without sight of the shore' by Ellie Saunders, Cirencester College
'Toxic Codependency' by Eva Echeverria-Valda, Farmor's School
The Winners
First Place
'Toaster Poetry' by Agata Spasik, Braden Forest School
Judges comments: "So simple, so beautifully put together, and really quite profound."
"This made me smile. Very neatly done metaphor and such great, sparse writing."
"Superb, succinct and profound"
Second Place
'Jackson and Olivia' by Charlotte Minett, Chipping Campden
Judges comments: "Impressive for someone so young to have the confidence to write simply and concisely, not falling back on long words or too much description. She captures the nature of grief and bereavement incredibly well. You could imagine reading a novel by this writer."
"Simple, elegant, poignant and frankly amazing for 16."
Third Place
'Your Name Is' by Jamie Moody, Cirencester College
Fourth Place
'The Boy' by Alex Masters, Ridgeway School
Judges comment: "Again, very assured writing, emotive and descriptive and a great sense of place and time."
Highly Commended
'Slam Shakespeare' by Hollie Allison-Soule, Cirencester College
'I Don’t Wish To Sleep' by Olivia Ipkendanz, Cheltenham Ladies College
'Quiet' by Indigo Maynard Watts, Pates Grammar School
'Soma' by Rebecca Davies, Burford School
Commended
| Rough nothing | Madison Stevens | Dorcan Academy |
| Desensitised | Poornal Chevuru | The Ridgeway School & 6th Form College |
| Circus | Esme Barlow Hall | Stroud High School |
| The unfair loss | Emma Roberts | Farmor's School |
| The living God | Srijana Thapa | New College, Swindon |
| A different sort of Wednesday | Hollie-May Clapton | Cirencester Kingshill |
| A masked nation | Sofia Wright | The Cotswold School |
| The love of grandma | Emma Churches | Kingsdown School, Swindon |
| A surprise friendship | Susanna Haley | Cirencester College |
| The trouble of today | Henry Scrase-Kings | Cirencester College |
| The bird called Covid | Alice Watson | Cirencester Deer Park |