Get your pupils to bring the past to life

We would like our children in Yr5 and Yr6 to enter the History Association writing competition. If you ran out of time over half-term then now you’ve got a chance to enter!  Please find all of the information about this below:

You can take a look at some of the past entries here:

• 2020
• 2021

One of the key attributes of historical fiction is that it has a convincing setting in a past time and place. Pupils can set their stories in ANY* period or place in the past, so the story can fit in with and extend any historical topic you may be studying. Winning students will each receive a cash prize of £25 and an engraved Bath Aqua Blue glass paperweight.

*While we encourage and accept stories from a wide variety of periods and settings, we recognise that some periods and topics carry sensitivities that do not lend themselves easily to fictionalised accounts.

1. Across Years 5 and 6 there will be two prizes for the best individual story.
2. There is also a prize for the best fictional historical character in a convincing historical setting. Three prizes will be on offer here across all year groups.

What are the judges looking for?

Stories in each category are shortlisted by panels of student readers where possible. The shortlist is then judged by our primary and secondary expert panels. Judges are looking for:

• Historical accuracy – even down to the choice of names characters are given and any props additional to the historical setting
• A riveting read with a good plot!
• A convincing story – i.e. is it plausible that these events and/or this character could have existed at the time?
• Use of historical knowledge to feed the plot, context and character
• Effective use of historical vocabulary and literary conventions, including where dialogue is included in the story
• Creative and interesting perspectives of story-telling. In the past we have received an entry telling the story of a siege from the perspective of the castle!
• We recommend a minimum story length of 400 words.

Entries must be emailed to asktheoffice@muxtonprimary.co.uk by Monday 13th  June 2022.  

If you are looking for inspiration, don’t forget to take a look at some of the books listed in our Young Quills historical fiction award. You can find past entries here. You can also view our webinar recording on historical fiction with author Tony Bradman, whose book Anglo Saxon Boy (Walker Books) won the Young Quills award in 2018 in the ‘ages 7-9 years’ category.