Pupils - Showcase your Talents

Are you a talented Wythenshawe pupil who has the potential to be the next Dizzee Rascal or Duffy?  Or do you aspire to be a writer or artist, work for NASA, or set up your own business?

Whatever your ambitions, the Student Awards are looking for young people from Wythenshawe to showcase their talents in a competition aimed at finding Greater Manchester’s most talented students. If you have a passion for a certain subject at school and want to show off what you’ve got – with the chance of winning some fantastic prizes – then this competition is for you.

Aimed at pupils in each of Greater Manchester’s boroughs, the competition is now open for entries and will cover seven categories – art & design, music, drama, creative writing, ICT, business & enterprise and science & technology. To enter, pupils must be in Years 9 or 10 and must complete an exciting challenge relating to one of these subjects.

Shortlisted entrants will have the chance to attend a VIP awards ceremony where competition winners will be announced and awarded with exciting and unique ‘money-can’t-buy’ prizes, donated by sponsors.  These include Microsoft, The Barbican, Press Association, Bright Ideas Trust, Lime Pictures and Domino Records.

Rachel Watts from Trafford, who won the creative writing category at last year’s Greater Manchester Student Awards, says: “For my prize I won a day at the ManchesterConfidential.com offices where I shadowed the editor and got to put together a review on a popular shop in Manchester. I interviewed a number of people and did a lot of research on the internet to help inform my review write-up. It was great to get some fun work experience at an interesting company and was my first introduction to what life could be like when I finish school and college.  People don’t hear enough good things about what people my age do and like.  The Student Awards is a good way to change perceptions and promote the creativity and talents of young people within schools.”

The once in a lifetime, ‘money-can’t-buy’ prizes up for grabs include a day shadowing Apprentice star, Tim Campbell, taking part in a celebrity photoshoot, and a day in a recording studio with an up and coming band, courtesy of music label, Domino Records.

Coronation Street star, Ben Thompson, is a judge for this year’s competition. He says: “I’m really excited about being involved in this year’s Student Awards. When I was at Radcliffe Riverside High School, drama and music were the two things I was really into. I’ve been lucky enough to grow these passions – both into a career through Coronation Street and working with my band, the Rusholme Ruffians. The great thing about the Student Awards is that there’s a category for everyone so it’s something anyone can get involved in, whatever they like or are good at.

“I look forward to seeing the entries from Year 9 and 10 students from Wythenshawe and across Greater Manchester when I’m judging. I work with a lot of talented people who’ve come through state schools like I have, and I’m interested to see what Manchester’s young people have to offer.  It’s your chance to step up and shout about your talents for the chance to win some great prizes, so get your entries in!”

Launching this year’s Awards, Schools Minister, Diana Johnson, said: “The awards aim to recognise, celebrate and inspire students. We are incredibly proud of the great things that our school students are achieving and we want to help them show off their talents and encourage them to keep aiming high.

“We know we have some future leaders at our schools, whether they are going to be entrepreneurs, writers, musicians or engineers. We want to encourage students to stand out, to be proud of their achievements and to aspire to great things.  I wish each student every success in the competition and look forward to meeting those shortlisted at the awards ceremony later in the year.”

The awards scheme is part of the Greater Manchester Challenge, a  three-year programme run by the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) which aims to support schools, pupils and parents in improving educational outcomes for the area’s young people and encouraging and enabling students to achieve their full potential.

If you go to a Wythenshawe state school and would like to show us what you’ve got, to be in with a chance of winning one of seven ‘money-can’t-buy’ prizes, please download an online application pack, available along with additional information at www.dcsf.gov.uk/citychallenge/studentawards