On 5 March, Shiplake College marked World Book Day with a whole‑school 100 Word Grim Tale Competition, organised and overseen by the English Department. Although some pupils might have preferred to arrive dressed as Where’s Wally, Harry Potter, a Marvel hero, or a traditional fairy‑tale character, the event proved a great success and captured the imagination of the entire school community.
Each story had to be exactly 100 words - no more, no less - which required pupils to apply a high level of academic discipline. Crafting a complete narrative within such a strict limit demanded precision, careful editing, and a strong command of vocabulary and structure. The resulting entries demonstrated impressive effort, creativity, and linguistic sophistication, showing how confidently pupils can shape tone, pacing, and atmosphere even within a constrained format.
Head of English Mrs Hallam commented on the competition: 'Drawing inspiration from well‑known myths, legends and fairy stories, pupils have been invited to re‑imagine a familiar tale with a dark, unexpected twist — all within a strict 100‑word limit. Their stories, showcase the creativity, discipline and flair that make this event so exciting.'
The English Department has now placed the stories on display in the Great Hall, allowing the whole school to appreciate both the imaginative ideas and the advanced writing skills shown by all who entered. It is clear that we have many talented, budding writers within the College.
Congratulations to our winners:
- Year 7: W James
- Year 8: T Yglesias
- Year 9: Amelia Williams
Highly commended entries:
- Will Arden
- Emily Bryan
- Chloe Edwards
- Felix Greenway
- T Lawrence
- A Mertes
- Tommy Morgan
- Pfeiffer Peterson
- Laila Webb
- Joel Venner
Well done to everyone who took part!
