Welcome to the SCEMES KS2
National Short Story Competition
The SCEMES National Short Story Competition is now closed!
Thank you to everyone who entered - the results will be posted on the 8th July 2008.
The theme of this year’s competition is ‘One World’ and is open to all KS2 pupils (aged 7-11) or those of equivalent age or ability.
This website provides you with all the information and inspiration that you need to enter the competition and win one of three fantastic cash prizes for your school!
- Read tips on short-story writing from a raft of top children’s authors including Joyce Dunbar, Geraldine McCaughrean, Alan Gibbons, Beth Webb, and many more!
- Use our Competition Timeline to keep up to date with all the latest developments from the SCEMES National Short Story Competition.
- Find useful information on environmental issues, including global warming, recycling, sustainable schools and more.
The closing date for the competition was World Environment Day, 5th June 2008, and winners will be announced on 8th July.
The three winning schools will receive cash prizes of:
* First Prize: £2,500 *
* Second Prize: £1,500 *
* Third Prize: £500 *
Winning pupils will receive a range of fabulous prizes including a holiday of a lifetime courtesy of Explore.
All winning and shortlisted stories will be published in an anthology, which will be released for sale in November 2008.
We at SCEMES Ltd. are committed to helping schools to achieve sustainability and facilitating the teaching of sustainable development through the National Curriculum. We hope that you feel inspired to enter the competition on the theme of ‘One World’ and we look forward to reading your stories. Good Luck!
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use
to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
Jonathon Porritt
“Now that we have all (at long last!) woken up to the dire state of the earth, partly as a consequence of accelerating climate change, it’s really important that we call on _all_ our human resources to find ways of responding appropriately. This Short Story Competition, on the theme of “One World”, is therefore a very timely initiative, and will no doubt stimulate a lot of creative and committed writing. A great idea!”.
Jonathon Porritt, Chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission
Joyce Dunbar
"More than ever before, since human life began, we live in one world. We know instantly what is happening anywhere on the planet - we can see it on our T.V screens, we can travel to far-flung places. They call it the 'global village'.
What happens in one part of this village affects everyone else. Every country is your neighbour. Human beings have made terrific strides in all sorts of ways, but they have taken the resources of our beautiful earth for granted. Now we know we have to take care of the earth. It's your village. It's your voice that could make a difference. Humans have always made stories. Not only do stories make sense of the past and the present, they can help to shape the future. Be part of it. Pick up your pens and let everyone know what you think."
Joyce Dunbar, Children’s Author
Gwyneth Glyn Evans
"When I asked my English teacher at school how long a short story had to be, she answered me with another question: 'how long is a piece of string?'
The idea stuck, and now I always think of a short story as a piece of string: it can lead anywhere, change shape, decorate, tie up, trip up, tangle, untangle, and even have a twist in its tail! Whatever your imagination wants to do with it, enjoy your piece of string."
Gwyneth Glyn Evans, Children’s Poet Laureate for Wales
Mark Leishman
"His Royal Highness was most interested to learn of the National Short Story Competition…and to see the end result of the National Poetry Competition you ran last year.
The Prince of Wales sincerely hopes that you are able to continue with projects such as these, as they are clearly engaging children with such fundamental issues as climate change and the need for us all to adopt a more sustainable way of living in order to safeguard the environment for the future."
Mark Leishman, Deputy Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales