SCOTTISH YOUNG WRITERS' SUCCESS FOR PUPILS

Two pupils from Glenalmond College have had their writing talents recognised with Highly Commended awards, emerging in the top 11 entries nationally in the Scottish Young Writer of the Year competition.

Glenalmond also received "special congratulations" from the Scottish Review and Young Programme for having two pupils on the Highly Commended shortlist.

Magnus Linklater, former Editor of The Times, was among the judges and described the standard of the entries as "incredibly high" this year.

The Glenalmond pair - Niall D (17) and Honor R (17) - chose two powerful and engaging subjects for their entries which have caught the judges’ attention.

Honor’s brilliantly-written entry focuses on the power and potential impact of small changes and inspires her readers to push against the “that’s the way the cookie crumbles” mentality which can threaten to stifle positive change. Click here to READ.

Niall’s powerful piece embraces the importance and modern-day relevance of the Classics and why studying ancient literature can be hugely influential and offer young people today “a plethora of poignant lessons”.  Click here to READ

The Glenalmond pair were among 21 pupils from schools throughout Scotland to be selected in January for the next stage of the competition sponsored by the Young Programme charity their Highly Commended places put them in the top 11 nationally.

The work for the competition had to be non-fiction that of the author alone, unedited by a teacher (or anyone else).

The brief given to pupils is to imagine they were writing a feature or column for an intelligent magazine or serious newspaper.

Victoria Dryden, Glenalmond College English teacher, congratulated the pupils on the recognition of their hard work. Their entries were produced as part of the pupils’ involvement in Glenalmond's Aspire Group, targeting competitive university places.

“We are absolutely delighted with the pupils’ success in the competition,” said Miss Dryden.

“They produced two highly compelling pieces of writing on two very different subjects and their success is all the more remarkable as the pair combined writing their pieces, with rehearsals for the school play, Epicene.”