THE author of some of the world’s most popular children’s books has thrown his support behind a writing competition for youngsters in Oxfordshire.

Philip Pullman, who lives in Cumnor, said anything that encouraged young people to put pen to paper and dream up their own stories was to be welcomed.

The Oxford Mail, along with the National Literacy Trust (NLT), is encouraging 11 to 14-year-olds at participating schools in the county to enter the Ox Tales competition, which gives the winner a chance to have their work published in the newspaper.

Our top stories

Mr Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials trilogy, said: “The best way of learning how to use language consists of using it.

“Children are very capable of writing the most amazing pieces of work and poetry if they are taught in a way that encourages them to do so.

“It is a very important part of any child’s experience that they should have the chance to undertake some creative writing.

“I am always glad to see children being encouraged to write and anything that will help to do that is welcome.”

Youngsters at schools taking part in the Oxfordshire Gaining Momentum programme, which is run by the NLT, have been challenged to write 500 words about a place in Oxfordshire that means something to them.

As well as having their work published, the winner will receive a £50 book voucher and £250 of books for their school.

There are also vouchers for the runner-up, third place and 20 commended entries.

Mr Pullman, who wrote his first story when he was about eight, said: “Writing is a way of playing and it is very important that we should play.

“I think writing about the sort of thing you want to read would be my advice.”

Schools across Oxfordshire have been busy preparing their entries for Ox Tales, which closes at 5pm on January 8.

The finished stories will be judged by children’s author Frances Hardinge and representatives from the NLT, Oxfordshire County Council and the Oxford Mail.

Mr Pullman said young people’s passion for stories had not been diminished by the many other forms of entertainment on offer in the modern world.

He said: “The urge to tell stories is still with us and the urge to read stories is as powerful as ever it ever was.

“We need to provide children with the opportunity to hear music being played, to listen to opera, to see paintings in galleries.

“They will not always like everything, but show them as much as you can as often as possible.

“It sows the seeds in children’s imaginations.”

ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS

Bartholomew School, Eynsham; Bicester Community College; Blessed George Napier School, Banbury; Carterton Community College; The Cooper School, Bicester; Fitzharrys School, Abingdon; Gosford Hill School, Kidlington; The Henry Box School, Witney; Icknield Community College, Watlington; King Alfred’s Academy, Wantage; Larkmead School, Abingdon; The Marlborough School, Woodstock; North Oxfordshire Academy, Banbury; St Gregory the Great Catholic School, Oxford; The Warriner School, Bloxham; Wood Green School, Witney.

HOW TO ENTER

ENTRANTS must be pupils at a school currently participating in the Oxfordshire Gaining Momentum scheme.

Students must be aged between 11 and 14 years old at the time of entry.

Stories should be up to 500 words about a place in Oxfordshire that pupils feel strongly about. The writing should be produced individually, word processed and clearly labelled with the entrant’s full name and school name.

Teachers must complete a form along with any entries they submit. Forms are available to download at literacytrust.org.uk/oxfordshire_gaining_momentum/ox-tales.

Entries can either be e-mailed to amber.finch@literacytrust.org.uk or posted to Amber Finch, Ox Tales, National Literacy Trust, 68 South Lambeth Road, London, SW8 1RL. The competition opens today and closes at 5pm on Friday, January 8, 2016. Entry is free.