CLIMATE was the theme of a school partnership's creative writing competition.

In light of the highly topical and publicised climate change activity from young people around the world, Richard Huish College selected the theme for their annual creative writing and illustration awards for Huish students and pupils of partner schools.

The Brunner creative writing competition, run by Huish for partner schools, challenged pupils to write an imaginative, original short story, dramatic monologue, play script or poem, of their interpretation of climate.

In the 24th year of the competition, entries were received from The Castle School, Haygrove School, Heathfield Community School and, for the first time, Tiverton High School.

The Huish English department judged the Brunner competition and were impressed by the calibre and quantity of entries, awarding the Brunner Cup to Gemma Calver from Heathfield Community School.

Huish students also got inspired entering their work into the exclusive Ross Paterson Creative Writing Award, offered by the trustees of the charity Get Home Safe.

Get Home Safe was set up by Helen Evans and her friend Charlotte Pitman, in memory of Helen’s nephew Ross Paterson, a former Huish student with a flair for creative writing.

Charlotte presented this year’s award and £100 prize to Jazz Witney for her entry, ‘Is our world beautifully tragic?’.

The Lucas Cup for Artistic Writing challenged students to create an illustration for a poster, either hand drawn or digitally, using the theme of Climate.

Judge Tjark Schoenfeld, course manager for graphic design, awarded this year’s prize to Huish’s Becky Stevens, with Leo Calpin from The Castle School swooping first prize in the partner schools’ section with his striking design.

At the Presentation Evening on November 27, the audience heard extracts from the winning entries as they collected their trophies.

The artwork of the Lucas Cup played on a show reel to create a spectacular backdrop to the proceedings.

Joseph Bennett, assistant principal, said: "The creative writing across our partner schools and colleges is impressively high.

"We marvel at the creativity, variety and sheer craftsmanship of the entries we get.

"We have been delighted this year to welcome the involvement from new schools and hope to encourage even more next year."

Somerset County Gazette:

BRUNNER CUP FINALISTS: From left: Alicia Valmiki (Heathfield), Alanna Thrupp (Tiverton High School), Amelia Cadmore (Haygrove), Phoebe Howes (Haygrove), Sophie Baker (Heathfield)

Somerset County Gazette:

LUCAS CUP WINNER: Becky Stevens (Huish)

Somerset County Gazette:

ROSS PATERSON AWARD WINNER: Jazz Witney (Huish), winner of the Ross Paterson award, being presented her trophy by Charlotte Pitman, Get Home Safe Charity

Somerset County Gazette:

LUCAS CUP FINALISTS: Partner Schools, from left, Ben Kheir, Grace Parsons, Megan McKellar, Grace McGarry, Heidi Wright (all The Castle School)