The Parliamentary Press Gallery Writing Competition

Supported by Dods - The first name in political information and communication.

As part of the celebrations for its 200th anniversary in 2003, the Parliamentary Press Gallery inaugurated an annual writing competition for students, designed to complement citizenship lessons in schools.

Since then hundreds of students and schools throughout the country have taken part in the competition. Each year a specific theme is chosen for the two age categories to write on.

This year, as well as having the continued support of Dods Parliamentary Communications, the competition is being additionally sponsored by the Parliamentary Education Service and the Association of School and College Leaders.

The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) is the only professional association and trade union in Britain to speak exclusively for secondary school and college leaders. The association has more than 14,000 members in schools and colleges across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Until January 2006, it was known as the Secondary Heads Association.

The 2008-9 competition is once again divided into two age groups, Years 10-11(S3-4) and Years 12-13(S5-6). In the past, the environment and efforts to tackle global poverty have featured as topics for young writers to tackle. This year we are asking them to imagine they are briefing the Prime Minister on their ideas for the future.

Students in Years 10-11(S3-4) are asked: If you had half an hour to meet the Prime Minister, name one thing you would ask him to do to make Britain a better place, and explain how it would improve life for the people it would affect. Students in Years 12-13(S5-6) are asked to imagine that the Prime Minister’s youth policy adviser has asked them to devise an effective media campaign to promote a more positive image of young people.

Regional winners will enjoy a wonderful day in London and will meet leading Parliamentary journalists at work and some prominent politicians. The day will end with the announcement of the overall winners and a presentation of the awards.

>> Work Experience

A small number of previous winners have benefited from work experience with Dods and the Press Gallery. This programme is for category winners who are 17 or over and interested in pursuing a career in the political arena. Whilst Dods and the Press Gallery would love to extend this opportunity to everyone, please note that places on the programme in any given year are necessarily limited and may be offered subject to the criteria specified by Dods and/or the Parliamentary Press Gallery. Details on how to apply for work experience will be provided to winners aged 17 and over, on request.