Creative Writing Competition Winning Entries 2025

Junior Category Winner

Edward H, Year 4

‘The Stories of Morris the Dinosaur in: The Not-So-Great  Clean-Up Day!’

Three separate extracts from the story:

IT WAS CLEAN UP DAY.

All the Teds HATED clean up day. Clean up day was done on the eve of Edward’s birthday every year. It involved dramatically removing any unwanted waste in the bedroom, but this included getting rid of some of the Teds’ prized possessions. Like last year, when Morris lost his pet apple core to the binbag. Ugh. Clean up day. The eve of Edward’s birthday. Don’t see this on Christmas Eve, do you?

***

Edward’s dad gave the Teds a pile of stuff for them to sort into two piles. Edward’s dad thought that the Teds would know that the two piles were obviously what to keep and what to put into the binbag, but the Teds weren’t really that smart, so they came up with three other possibilities for the two piles before finally realising what the real divisions were. Their three possibilities were:

1. The stuff that’s paper and the stuff that’s plastic.
2. The things that explode bubbles and the things that do not.
3. The items that have the number 3 in their name and the items that are free. (Morris thought of that one).

***

And so it was done. Edward’s room was tidy and the Teds went back to sleep. And everyone was fine. Except for Edward’s dad, who couldn’t understand why there were 726 comics in the ‘keep’ pile and a single leaf in the ‘binbag’ pile.

Middle Category Winner

Robert M, Year 6

‘James Bearington and Dave in: Oh Crumbs!’

Extracts from the story:

There was once a bear named James Bearington. He had fluffy brown fur and black eyes that nestled into his fur. He also wore one item of clothing whatever the weather: it was his stripey green, yellow and blue scarf. This bear had a triangular-Toblerone-loving friend called Dave. Dave was a shoemaker and James was his assistant. Being Dave’s assistant mostly involved buying questionable amounts of Toblerone and shoe supplies. James and Dave ran a shoe shop intown called Harlinton. Not just any shoe shop, though – the best, most amazing shoe shop in the world. People came from all over the globe to get some of James’ and Dave’s famous shoes.

James and Dave also ran a detective business which they kind of stumbled clumsily into but were very successful at. One day they got a call from a very flustered man.

****

“Our school is renowned for its mouthwatering chocolate chip cookies.”

“Okay,” replied James.

“We have a secret handwritten recipe that has been handed down through the generations, which we keep locked in a safe with lots of the other school recipes. This morning, when I went to get them, the safe was open and then…well…POOF! Vanished, completely gone, disappeared, lost, absent, departed, mi- ”

“Okay, okay, I get the idea,” said James. “Where are you?”

“St Michael’s School.”

“And who are you?”

“Why, I’m Mark Edwards, the head chef.”

***

James and Dave hung back a little to look for more clues. Dave scampered about on the floor and started sniffing around. This type of action James had witnessed many times before, usually when his friend was on the scent of chocolate.

“Dave, what did I tell you about eating chocolate off the floor!” exclaimed James, making no effort to conceal his irritation. Dave, however, was energetically gesticulating towards a chocolatey footprint embedded in the carpet next to an open window.

“I think we just found a clue and a very annoying stain,” said James smugly.

Dave sat disappointedly scribbling down the shoe size and make, after strict instructions from James not to eat it. It was a size 3 Smartshoe+ from Pike. Dave had an exceptional knowledge of shoes, as you’d expect from a world-renowned shoemaker.

Senior Category Winner

Anouk C, Year 8

‘The Dragon Whisperer’

Extracts from the story:

The great Hyperion trees swayed and rustled hundreds of feet above the soldiers. There were about twenty or thirty men, wearing shining, silver armour and serious expressions. The sky was a dull ugly grey, threatening a storm and the smell of rain mixing with the sharp smell of pine which drifted down from the trees. Their footsteps were muffled by the springy carpet of pine needles underfoot as they patrolled the forest, sleek, white guns, and bows in hand. It was eerily quiet, apart from the occasional rumble of thunder.

They walked in silence for about two hours, near the Darkribe border, before Commander singled them to halt. His blue eyes scanned the forest as he carefully checked no one unwanted was there. He was an aging man in his late 40’s, with pale blue eyes and thinning spiky blond hair.

“We are almost at the Watch Tower, just a few more minutes,” he called back in a gruff voice, lowering his rifle slightly. They continued on their way.

***

The dragons grew very quickly, and before we knew it, they were larger than elephants. They were all moved to individual stables, each with a small, stone basin full of cool, mountain water, and meat whenever they got hungry.

I naturally became attached with the little albino dragon, whom I named Frostrose, and when we had to choose which dragon to be with for life (until either of us died), many people in my squadron mocked me for choosing her, saying I would never get anywhere with a dragon like her.

While everyone else practised outside on the bright chilly, spring days, I slowly taught Frostrose to wear a saddle, and communicate with her, so we could eventually do everything like any other dragon, but our way.

After another month of practising, I thought it was time to try riding her. I unlocked her stable door, and she followed me, no leash or chain needed, to the Hovercraft Station. We took the lift, which was thankfully big enough for both of us, and walked down a few staircases, until we arrived.

***

After a while, I escaped the crowd and headed down to the stables to see Frostrose. She was dozing in a nest of moss and old scales in the corner of her large stable, her pale wings covering her face. I quietly entered and sat down in the curve of her body. She shifted her wings and gently blinked her ruby-red eyes. I stroked her back and she rested her huge head on my lap. I told her about becoming Commander and she snuffled as if congratulating me. I polished her scales until they gleamed like diamonds before leaving, kissing her on her head as I left.