mrs picking is the single uk winner of international writing competition

Our very own Mrs Picking has become the single UK winner of the British Council’s Commonwealth Class Story Competition, beating hundreds of other entries from across the globe.

Head of English and Year 6 Teacher, Mrs Picking moved the judges with her beautiful story of Anni the Laji-bird.

The piece is a thought-provoking reflection of the issues surrounding the refugee crisis that is currently taking a grip of our modern world.

Mrs Picking said, “I am absolutely delighted to have placed third in this amazing competition, as well as being the only winner from the UK.”

The brief asked storytellers to centre their writing around the idea of ‘belonging’ and what this means to them. It saw entries from across the Commonwealth, including Kenya, Pakistan and Malaysia, with the winning two entries from Nigeria and India.

John Rolfe and Shane McLaughlin, from the British Council, visited St Cedd’s School this week to award Caroline with her certificate.

John said, “The British Council is proud and delighted to celebrate the very well-deserved success of Caroline Picking in the Commonwealth-Wide Teachers’ Story Writing Competition.”

“Her powerful and poignant story of Anni was judged in the top three of all entrants and the only UK winner. Many congratulations to Caroline and to all at St Cedd’s School for their fantastic commitment to the enriching and creative international dimensions of teaching.”

If you would like to read Caroline’s story, as well as the winning entries, please visit the British Council’s School Online website: https://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org/commonwealth-class-story-writing-competition.