Clubs and competitions

One way you can enrich your English skills and knowledge is to take part in extra-curricular clubs and competitions. We run several different clubs, as well as our annual creative writing competitions, and we encourage students to take part in prestigious national and international competitions.

Competitions to enter right now

If you like the sound of any of these, want to enter, but feel as if you need a little bit of help getting started, just speak to your English teacher. They’ll be happy to help.

National and international competitions

Year 9 Perse Research Essay Writing: This is a competition for Year 9 students across the UK to promote independent research skills. There are five essay titles in each category (Arts/Humanities and Science), and students have to pick a title, research the topic and write and essay of 1,500 words. This is a prestigious competition, and we had some success last year with Ashlyn C in year 9 being judged highly commended. All entries should be submitted via their online form by the closing date of 5pm on Friday 9 January 2026. More details here.

The East Riding Festival of Words poetry competition:  This competition is now open for entries with theme of 'My universe'.  Winners will be invited to read their poems at a special event.  Your poem should be no more than 45 lines, on one side of A4 paper. Entry is free for students aged 11-16.  All entries must be submitted by, 10 January 2026.  More details here.

One Teen Story Contest:  This contest asks writers aged 13-19 to enter their original, unpublished fiction. We are interested in great short stories of any genre about the teen experience—literary, fantasy, sci-fi, love stories, horror, etc.  Entries of between 2,000 to 4,500 words December 1, 2025.  More details here.

Rotary Club Young Writer Competition: The Rotary Club Young Writer Competition has the theme of ‘Happiness in Nature’.    Participants can choose to write fiction or non-fiction, a story or a poem (550 words for prose, 40 lines for poems). It’s your chance to be imaginative.  Entries from writers up to the age of 17 (as of 31st August 2025) can be submitted to Mr McGarvey by Friday 19th December 2025 who will forward them to the judges. More details here.

Canterbury Tales Writing Competition

This prestigious annual competition asks students from 5-18 years old to write a poem, story or description on the theme of ‘Happily Ever After?’.  You have the choice of either: writing  a poem or story that ends happily; writing a poem or story that ends happily, but not for everyone; or writing a description (in verse or prose) of a character who comes to a bad end.  Entries are of a maximum of 500 words and must be submitted by 28 February 2026.  Prizes of up to £300 can be won in each age category.  More details here.

Never Such Innocence Writing Competition

This year’s theme is ‘In Someone Else’s Shoes’ which you can respond to using poetry, art or song.  The competition which was set up to help remember the lessons from previous wars, asks you to explore different perspectives of war and conflict.  It accepts entries from age 9-18 in several categories.  An SHSG student was a winner last year.  Fingers crossed for more of the same.  Entries need to be submitted by 27th February 2026. More details here.

Clubs and competitions in school

Enter one of our annual creative writing competitions

We run a number of competitions throughout the year, every year. If you happen to win, you will receive Bonus Levels to your overall English Level, plus one of our legendary trophies. The regular competitions are:

  • The Cursed Pen – our annual horror writing competition

  • The Green Dagger – our annual crime writing competition

  • The SHSG Poetry Prize – our annual poetry competition

Join our Debating Society

Students in Years 7-10 will be able to learn the skills of debating, practise debates for fun and take part in internal and external debate competitions.

Join our Creative Writing Group

Our creative writing group (for students in KS3 and 4) meets every week to practise and share their work.

Join the GCSE Bookclub

Students in Year 10 will be able to join our Bookclub (from January), in which they’ll read some brilliant super-curricular books and talk about them. The Bookclub will continue to run for Year 11 students until Christmas.