THE dreaming spires of Oxford have inspired the work of some of Britain’s finest authors including JRR Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, CS Lewis and Philip Pullman.

Now youngsters at the county’s secondary schools have been given the chance to begin their own journey towards literary stardom by entering a new Oxford Mail competition that launches today.

Ox Tales, which will be run in partnership with the National Literacy Trust, challenges pupils aged between 11 and 14 to write a story of up to 500 words about a place in Oxfordshire that means something special to them.

The winner will have their work published in the Oxford Mail and will be awarded book vouchers worth £50 as well as £250 worth of books for their school library.

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Vouchers are also up for grabs for second and third place, as well as for 20 pupils whose entries are shortlisted and for the teacher who submits the most entries.

The competition is open to schools that are taking part in the Oxfordshire Gaining Momentum programme, which is run by the NLT and aims to improve literacy and language skills in every subject area. It currently runs at 16 secondary schools.

Dr Marcella McCarthy, principal of St Gregory the Great Catholic School in East Oxford, one of those involved, said the competition would help inspire the next generation of authors.

She said: “It is about getting children to believe that they can do that and become an author. We have authors regularly coming into school and talking about how they do things and how they may go about it. That is always really exciting for the pupils.”

Oxford Mail:

St Gregory the Great Catholic School is among those involved Ox Tales, the Oxford Mail’s story writing competition. Pictured, from left, are Max Trinder-Jones, Goncalo Silveiro, principal Dr Marcella McCarthy, school librarian Jodie Brooks, Isobelle Cansell and Taylor-Newbold

Dr McCarthy added creative writing was not just worthwhile for pupils who want to become authors.

She said: “If you get children writing like they are grown ups they can transfer those skills later on in life.

“Ox Tales will engage more children to get involved.”

Entries in the competition will be judged by Oxfordshire Gaining Momentum ambassador and author Frances Hardinge and representatives from the Oxford Mail, National Literacy Trust (NLT) and Oxfordshire County Council.

NLT strategic lead for school improvement Susan Aykin said: “It is clear that fostering a love of writing and encouraging positive attitudes towards writing can play an important role in pupils’ progress in subjects across the curriculum.

“Through this competition in partnership with the Oxford Mail, we hope to inspire more local children to enjoy writing by providing an accessible topic, engaging content and a clear purpose for their work.”

In the coming weeks pupils will receive writing tips from authors and an Oxford Mail journalist and the winner will be invited to visit the newspaper’s offices in Osney Mead for a tour.

The competition follows the Get Oxfordshire Reading campaign – backed by the Oxford Mail – which was run by the NLT and funded by Oxfordshire County Council and aimed to get more children in the county interested in books and boost their achievement at school.

The county’s cabinet member for education, Melinda Tilley, said: “This competition is a great idea and should really fire the imagination of children taking part.