HSDC is celebrating an outstanding achievement as 54 GCSE English students from South Downs Campus have all secured publication in the national Young Writers competition.
The theme for the Young Writers competition this year was ‘Stranger Sagas’ and invited students to use no more than 100 words to write a story about ‘the weird and the wonderful, the odd and the mysterious’.
The short word count meant that HSDC’s students had to thoroughly consider their vocabulary choices, making the competition a fantastic opportunity for learners to sharpen their skills, build confidence and experience the excitement of becoming published authors.
HSDC is also exceptionally proud to announce that the 54 successful entries represent 100% of South Downs students who entered the Stranger Sagas competition, meaning that every single student will have their stories published. Young Writers themselves have stated that this is a rare and exceptional outcome.
This outstanding success story reflects far more than individual talent, but instead demonstrates how HSDC’s English provision raises aspiration and builds self-belief in each and every student. Whilst many students began their journey on this course lacking confidence in English, the expert teaching and supportive environment of South Downs has truly allowed them to thrive.
Charlotte Lovie, GCSE English lecturer at South Downs, said:
“At HSDC we’re always looking for ways to encourage and inspire our students’ creativity in interesting ways. I’m thrilled that so many of our GCSE English students got involved in the competition and that all of them succeeded in getting their stories chosen for publication.”
These results create tangible next steps for learners who are continuing to develop their English skills. Many of the HSDC students involved in the Stranger Sagas competition will now have the confidence and competence to progress onto higher levels of study.
The Stranger Sagas competition is designed to inspire young writers by transforming ordinary ideas into extraordinary stories. At HSDC South Downs, it has also transformed confidence, ambition and progression prospects.
This success highlights the impact of high-quality English teaching in unlocking new opportunities and showcases HSDC as a college where students are encouraged to challenge themselves, raise their aspirations and achieve meaningful outcomes.
