Students' success in creative writing

Putney students have once again demonstrated their creativity and flair for writing, enjoying remarkable success in a range of prestigious poetry and prose competitions this term.

A particular highlight came in the Wimbledon BookFest Young Writers' Competition, which invited entries on the theme of 'The Light'. Competing against other talented young writers, Olivia L (Year 7), Brooke H (Year 10) and Florence A (Year 10) were all awarded Distinctions for their outstanding work. Their entries have been selected for publication in the Young Writers Competition 2026 Anthology, and each student will receive a certificate in the autumn term.

Further success in this competition came from Sofia G (Year 8) and Nell S (Year 10), who achieved Merits and will also receive certificates in recognition of their impressive submissions.

The celebrations do not end there. In a separate Young Writers competition on the theme of 'Dreams', three Putney students earned the distinction of having their poetry chosen for publication in the competition anthology. Congratulations go to Holly K (Year 7), Theodora T (Year 10) and Isabella N (Year 12), whose imaginative entries captured the judges' attention. We are delighted to see their work gaining recognition beyond the classroom, and you can read their successful entries below.

(Aside from creative writing, good luck to Year 9 student Yuchen H, who is preparing herself for an upcoming place at the John Locke Summer School as a result of her success in the John Locke Essay Competition last year. She is looking forward to participating in small group debates and lectures with Oxford professors, exploring academic themes relating to the topics which the essay competition addressed. Good luck!)

Dreams!

By Holly K

When I close my eyes and drift off to sleep,

A magical world is waiting for me,

Full of hope, curiosity, secrets to keep,

Everything I dream, tunes my mind with glee.

What I wished could happen – something I believed not to be true,

Surprises me; a feeling I thought was bound to be due,

In this exciting new world anything was attainable,

This feeling of wonder, so very unexplainable.

I could go deep in the ocean, exploring underground cities,

Or up on Mount Everest, so many permittees,

All across the world as quick as a flash,

Venturing high into space, without burning to ash.

I could be the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,

Or live a relaxing life while receiving lots of income,

I could be the CEO of a new famous company,

Or gaining a love life of my fantasy, extremely luckily,

In my head, when I go to bed, anything is doable and mostly manageable,

So why don't we start know, as we can reach our goals,

Remember, if you don't try, only your visions are still unimaginable.

Insomniac

By Theodora T

As I rest my eyes and try to sleep, 

I am starved from the slumber I seek, 

For I am dragged down into waters of deep. 

Sinking. 

No safe haven filled with that fairy tale glow, 

Only misery and withered embers of hope obsequiously follow.

The burdens and views scrutinise me so, 

As if bickering that I am nothing more than a fiasco. 

Pressure. 

A failure, a fake, a facade and a freak, 

What more do they desire for me to conquer and to beat?

I strive for the top at the summit above, 

Just to realise that I'll never truly be good enough. 

So why try at all? 

Why not just give up? 

When all goes wrong and rock bottom is hit, 

The only way left to go is up. 

Despair.

But how does one go up with morale so low 

That the Mariana Trench looks comparatively measly and shallow? 

Perpetual questions wash waves of lethargy over my body, 

Aching.

Ojalá¹

By Isabella N

I wish I spoke Spanish natively,

Instead of learning it in school;

The kind of Spanish my grandma speaks,

Knowing quiteñismos² instead of grammar rules.

I wish it was really half of me,

Instead of a faded half.

it never fully formed you see:

I'm always missing a part.

This world or that one,

I wish one was mine to claim;

I thought I'd found it when I realised 

The meaning of my name.

I'm not from either world.

I'm from a blend of the two.

But what happens when

There are so few others like you.

Our parents didn't have this problem –

Like that would have been okay:

It's a Gen Z problem;

One that's bound to get lost in the fray. 

So who do I get to turn to?

Who'll understand what I mean when I say:

Ojalá pudiera ser parte de tu mundo.³

Ojalá se me pudiera permitir quedarme.⁴

1 I wish

2 Colloquialisms used by inhabitants of Quito, Ecuador

3 I wish I could be a part of your world.

4 I wish I could be allowed to stay.