Girls show writing flair

David Blunkett with shortlisted pupils

Girls outstripped boys in a government-sponsored writing competition for primary school children.

Of the 10 pupils winning national awards in the Write Here, Write Now competition, eight were girls.

Writing is not only important to getting on in life, it can be enormous fun too

Roger McGough, poet

However, boys took three Teachers' National Improvement Awards, after being nominated by their schools for making the biggest strides in writing in their year.

The results came a day after the Chief Inspector of Schools in England, Chris Woodhead, said the government should be concerned that more than 50% of boys in primary schools in England were failing to reach the expected levels in writing.

The writing competition for Year 4 and 5 pupils in England attracted a total of 33,521 entries.

Pupils had to complete the work of a famous writer in one of four categories: a story, a poem, a play or a television/screenplay.

Prizes

The winners' schools received computers, webcameras, book vouchers, educational CD-ROMs and PC microscopes.

Individuals were awarded visits to the Disney Channel's London studios, the Globe Theatre and the National Theatre.

Education Secretary David Blunkett was joined by the writer Jacqueline Wilson, the poet Roger McGough and the Grange Hill celebrity Sally Geoghegan to present the awards at the British Library in London.

Roger McGough said it was good to see so many children are taking part in the competition.

"Writing is not only important to getting on in life, it can be enormous fun too. I hope everyone enjoyed trying to finish my poem," he said.

Winners

The prize for best story went to Lauren-Lucy Grafton from St Augustine's RC School, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Best poem was scooped up by Lee-Anne Pawley, 11, from St Mary's CE Primary School, Southend, Essex.

The fantastic response to Write Here, Write Now shows the important role a fun competition can play in encouraging children to enjoy writing

David Blunkett

Aron Journet, Gemma Turner, Hannah Gunning and Marc Godfrey - all aged nine when they entered - from Sutton at Hone Church of England Primary in Dartford, Kent took the award for best play.

The TV/film script prize went to Charlotte Drysdale, 10, Jane Roberts-Davies, 11, Kathryn Snook, 10 and Olive Gana, 11 from Bentley Heath Primary School in Solihull.

In the most improved category James Heyes, nine, from Upham C of E Primary in Southampton was singled out for battling dyspraxia - described by the Dyspraxia Foundation as an immaturity of the brain resulting in messages not being properly transmitted to the body.

His father, John, said the award had helped his son's confidence, following various problems at school, such as co-ordinating his writing and seeing the blackboard.

Ten-year-old Aaron Gratton from Shawley County Primary School, Epsom Downs, Surrey, won an award for his poem, The Colour Collector.

Akbar Zab, 10, from Norbury Manor Primary School, Norbury, south London, was praised for reaching one level below the national target in English.

This despite the fact that he only spoke a few words of English - "toilet, football, hello and goodbye," he said - when he moved to the UK a year ago.

'Encouraging'

Mr Blunkett said: "The fantastic response to Write Here, Write Now shows the important role a fun competition can play in encouraging children to enjoy writing."

The government would run another competition for the same age group next year, he confirmed.

Schools minister Estelle Morris said it was encouraging to see so many students taking part in the competition.

"It was designed to support the literacy hour, introduced by the government to raise standards of literacy among school children.

"The huge number of entries has led to a high quality of winners at regional level."

All the winners and their teachers should be extremely proud of their efforts, she added.