Design an inspiring female character competition launched

In response to studies showing that children’s books are dominated by male characters, a ‘design your own female character’ competition for school age children has been launched by St Mary’s. The challenge is for children to use the power of their imagination to design a female story character they think would inspire others. The character could be a person, an animal or even an everyday object!

The poetry competition has three categories for different age groups. Each category will have one winner and two runners-up!

The age categories are as follows:
• Reception to Year 2
• Year 3 to Year 6
• Year 7 to Year 11

Mrs Nicola Griffiths, Principal, said “Central characters of stories can be a great source of inspiration to children. Although studies have shown there to be a higher proportion of books featuring female protagonists compared to the 1960s, male protagonists remain overrepresented. This competition will offer the opportunity for girls from St Mary’s and children in the wider community to get creative over the summer holidays and inspire others with the female characters they design. We are looking forward to receiving entries, which will be judged by our English Subject Leads at the Lower School and Senior School. I wish everyone the best of luck with their entries!”

Entries should be submitted online at www.stmaryscolchester.org.uk/competition by Monday 30 September. Winners will be announced on Friday 4 October and prizes will be presented a St Mary’s Empowering Girls leadership event to be held at St Mary’s Senior School on Saturday 12 October, 12.30-1.30pm.