It’s been a delight reading all the entries to our Young Writers Competition from across RBWM! The judges have now created a shortlist of young writers. Read on to find out who has been shortlisted…
Let’s celebrate together
Our shortlisted writers are all invited to The Award Ceremony at 7pm on Saturday 11th October at The Old Court, Windsor. The event promises to be an absolute blast with amazing hosts, readings, interviews and lots of well-deserved clapping!
Every shortlisted entrant will receive a free ticket to the ceremony, plus two complimentary tickets for family and friends. Additional tickets can be purchased via the Old Court website for just £7 for adults and £5 for children.
Note for the Award Ceremony
- Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- There will be a photographer at the event. Photographs will be used on various websites and other media.
Subject to permission, prize-winning entries will be published on our website after the Award Ceremony.
WWG Young Writers Competition 2025 – Shortlist
By category in alphabetical order.
Y6-7 Stories
| Name | Title of piece | School |
| Emma Whapples | The Silent Street | Claire’s Court, Maidenhead |
| Harmony Carro-Tevfik | Running Away | Claire’s Court, Maidenhead |
| Lexii Yang | False Recall | RBWM resident |
| Orla Creswell | The Mysterious Encounter | Charters School |
| Tharuli Ratnayaka | The Forgotten Souls | Dedworth Middle School |
| Theo Anton-Li | The End of the Beginning | Papplewick, Ascot |
Y6-7 Poems
| Freddie Smart | My Dog Hector is The Best Dog in the World | Desborough College |
| Julia Johnson | My Bonnie and me | St George’s School |
| Ruby Moudrak | Greatness of Gratitude | St Edwards Royal Free |
| Sophie McCabe | Scarecrow | St Edwards Royal Free |
Y8-10 Stories
| Darcey Kelsall | The Runner | St Edwards Royal Free |
| Lisa Pietrzak | His Head Fell For Her | St Edwards Royal Free |
| Michael Aitchison-Anastasio | Reaching the Top of the Globe | The Windsor Boys’ School |
| Sadie Bell | When I Dance | Claire’s Court, Maidenhead |
| Tabby Spence | The Letter | Claire’s Court, Maidenhead |
| Tianna Fleming | Finding myself | The Windsor Girls’ School |
Y8-10 Poems
| Aditi Arora | Written in the Stars | Marist School, Sunninghill |
| James Odgers | Friend or Foe | Charters School |
| Saad Aziz | Gaza in my heart | Desborough College |
Y11+ Stories
| Cyrus Poonawalla | Kite | Eton College |
| Poppy Knowles | The Man With No Face Phenomenon | The Windsor Girls’ School |
| Zakhar Navalnyy | The Lighthouse | Eton College |
Y11+ Poems
| Cyrus Poonawalla | Dining Hall | Eton College |
| Poppy Knowles | Self-Justification | The Windsor Girls’ School |
A huge thank you to our sponsors
Without your help, we couldn’t have made this competition happen.
Prince Philip Trust Fund – the fund makes a real difference to the quality of life of people from communities across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It focuses support towards disability, health, the elderly, families, children and young people, those in social need and the arts.
Chiltern Bookshops, not only for being brilliant independent bookshops, but also for their generous donation towards our prizes.
You can visit their shops in Gerrards Cross or Chorleywood for a unique bookshop experience including some fantastic author events.
LEGOLAND® – their Windsor Resort is a unique family theme park where visitors can take to the road, soar through the skies, and sail the seas in complete safety. With interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops, and driving schools, not to mention a staggering 80 million LEGO®bricks, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland.
Tesco – one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, offering groceries, clothing, electronics, and more. Tesco operates various store formats, including Express and Extra, catering to diverse customer needs. It also emphasizes sustainability and community support initiatives.
Windsor Writers' Group 