Following the pattern set by the Scottish School Magazine Competition, which has already run very successfully for four years, this competition is a new initiative, offering a rigorous and credible platform from which to recognise and reward the achievements of secondary school pupils in England and Wales in English, Art & Design and IT skills. Open to every secondary school in England and Wales (including Sixth Form Colleges), the competition will encourage pupils to work as a team to create a school’s magazine, newsletter, or online edition. Winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony at the Stationers’ Hall in London on Monday, 27 June 2011.
The Shine 2011: School Media Awards will offer schools that already produce a publication, either printed or online, a chance to showcase what they are doing well. They will also provide an opportunity for schools that have not previously produced a publication to encourage pupils to work together and, with different school departments, create something new. Most importantly, although the school team should be guided by a teacher, the ideas, content, design and strategy of projects that are entered into the competition must be pupil-led.
The competition is being supported both by commercial companies such as Quark, Antalis, TES, Robert Horne Group and by Trade Associations and organisations such as the Newspaper Society, the PPA, Skillset and the CLA all of whom recognise that this country’s future depends on literate and confident young people with positive attitudes and good core skills who understand business and entrepreneurship and who are eager to benefit from lifelong learning, starting in the classroom. The Stationers’ Foundation, together with the supporting associations, believe it is vitally important to capture the interest and enthusiasm of pupils before they take decisions about college and university courses. Shine 2011: School Media Awards will help young people develop self-confidence and ambition and assist them in realising their full potential inside and outside the workplace. The competition will also give pupils an exciting insight into the creative world of media and the graphic arts.
