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SubscribeThe Portico Sadie Massey Awards Reading and Writing Competition is now open for entries!
Terms and Conditions
• Two categories: Reading Award (Book Review), Writing Award (Short Story)
• Open to 7 – 18-year-olds (Key Stages 2 – 5)
• Free to enter (a person may enter both the reading and writing competition but only one entry in each)
• Closing date: Midnight, 21st March 2025
• Entries are judged on creativity and individuality and not spelling or grammar
• The entry must be an original piece of work and written by one entrant
• Stories may be in prose or verse and set in the past, present or future
• Any images will not be judged as part of the submission
• AI must not be used
• Winners and Highly Commended are awarded in each Key Stage
• The Presentation event is held in June 2025 in Manchester
Formatting
• All entries must be written in English as they will be judged in English
• No identifying names or school on the entry as entries are judged anonymously
• All stories must be either:
a) Typed and submitted via the PSMA website which includes a submission form which must be filled out in full.
b) Typed or handwritten (in blue or black ink and legible) and either emailed with entry form to psma@theportico.org.uk or posted to The PSMA Competition, The Portico Library, 25 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HY
c) Schools may enter a class using the online school entry spreadsheet and either post entries or send with attached school entry spreadsheet to psma@theportico.org.uk
NB Entries must be numbered to correspond to numbers on spreadsheet
Word count:
• Writing Competition:
Key Stage 2 – maximum 800 words
Key Stage 3 – maximum 1000 words
Key Stage 4 – maximum 1000 words
Key Stage 5 – maximum 1,500 words
• Reading Competition
Key Stage 2 – maximum 500 words
Key Stage 3 – 5 – maximum 1000 words
Other information
• The title is not included in the word count
• Due to limited funds, prizes may only be issued within the UK though certificates can be downloaded from the website
• Winning and highly commended entries will be published on the PSMA website
• Copyright remains with the author, but the author allows permission for the PSMA to use the short story or book review and credit the author’s name on the Portico Library and PSMA social media, library material and website
Please note
• In the case of an unprecedented number of entries, first round readings will be made by a panel of appointed readers
• The judges’ decision is final
• The judges and organisers will not enter into any correspondence concerning the competition results
Any further questions: psma@theportico.org.uk
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