Students across Fairfax Multi‑Academy Trust have been recognised for their creativity and flair after impressing judges in FMAT’s Fabulous Fiction Fest, a Trust‑wide creative writing competition.
The challenge, originally set on World Book Day, invited students to reimagine well‑known characters in completely new stories of up to 500 words.
Across the Trust, entries featured everything from Shakespearean figures to Disney icons and dystopian heroes.
At Smith’s Wood Academy, Year 9 student Joeliyn Anthony Egberamwen (far right) was named overall winner for her striking reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood – who is “not so little anymore,” instead described as “a silent sly lady, crawling walls and drinking poisons.”
Inspired by writers who have reinvented Disney Princesses, Joeliyn said: “I liked that we didn’t have to put the character within the same plot or setting so instead of her being hunted by the wolf, she is getting revenge for what the wolf did to her parents and this time she is the one eating the wolf.”
English Teacher Mr Lamb said the competition brought out the very best in students.
“Students were really given free rein to be creative and I really saw some quite outlandish, unique and original pieces amongst the entrants.
“It really gave me a boost last week when I heard we had a winner and three runners-up. I’m absolutely proud as punch. Not entirely surprised as we have so many talented students here, but these stories were a privilege to read.”
At Bournville School, Connie‑Grace Walton received first prize for her entry The Hunger Games Reimagined, where Katniss Everdeen’s plan “was foolproof to the affluent, disdainful and self-righteous viewers of the Hunger Games – none of them would dare set foot in the disgrace of District 12, or ruin their clothes with the heavy soot that clung earnestly to the air.”
Associate Assistant Principal for English Mr Walpole said Connie is a deserving winner with a bright future ahead.
“We are really pleased to see Connie awarded for her Hunger Games inspired story Connie is an avid reader and writer who has an excellent work ethic. We have lots of excellent writers at Bournville, and pupils wrote a range of creative and engaging stories.”
At Fairfax Academy, sixth form student Sophie Rosson was delighted to win first prize with her entry Sonder.
Associate Assistant Principal for English Mrs Ford said: “Sophie has a real passion for the study of English Literature and immerses herself in all of the opportunities the subject offers. To be able to write creatively is a real joy for her and the competition offered her that creative outlet.”
She added that runners‑up Ruby Marriott, Jack Rowlands and Maya Boboaea are also keen writers and have already entered this year’s Eisteddfod Creative Writing competition to have another opportunity to showcase their talent.
All winners across the Trust received £25 book tokens, with runners‑up receiving £10 book tokens to help fuel their passion for reading and writing.
Prize winners’ excerpts:
One who desires the master plays the jester’s hand, whose players are no less useful as they are hypocritical. Fair to the eye, yet far-fetched to the man’s conscience. In my mother’s martyrdom, they had borne me onwards as Elizabeth, whose oath was divine from ensoulment. Before consciousness, I had already become the possession of man beyond my conception. Why is it that we mortals crave this mastery? The words fail and die on my lips, where dust is smitten along my throat’s curvature and incense burns at the pit.
Sonder by Sophie Rosson. Fairfax Y12
Her plan was foolproof to the affluent, disdainful and self-righteous viewers of the Hunger Games — none of them would dare set foot in the disgrace of District 12, or ruin their clothes with the heavy soot that clung earnestly to the air. This would give Katniss the opportunity to hide away in the concealed forests outside the Panem walls.
The Hunger Games Reimagined by Connie-Grace Walton. Bournville Y10
Nothing was ever mundane in Taxriel, from the way the trees shifted under the mage moonlight, to its evil bargains and rare creatures. Some were labelled as werewolves, vampires, pixies but- some were simply mundane. Mundanes were nothing, plain as water, mortals just living to die. In Taxriel, lived Little Red Riding Hood except she
wasn’t so little anymore. She grew into a silent sly lady, crawling walls and drinking poisons.
Little Red Riding Hood Reimagined by Joeliyn Egberamwen. Smith’s Wood. Y9
In the stagnant depths of the humid July air, Esther’s gaze landed on the reflection in front of her. Reminiscing on the ghosts of a girl she no longer recognized. Every linear crack of the glass revealing a piece of her she’d once lost. With only a scholarship and a borrowed wardrobe covering the little dignity she had left, her mind constantly crawling back to the tree. The tree, a home to hanging green figs; resembling the life she was supposed to crave.
The Bell Jar Reimagined by Maya Boboaea. Fairfax Y9.
Thomas Cruckshank was a small plump man with a small goatee that sat at the bottom of his multiple chins. He had only been a professor at Hogwarts for a few months now and was finding it rather difficult. It was as if he was being pranked, as every time he sat down the room would fill with the sound of farts and burps which was absolutely disgusting. Also, when he tried to do a spell it would backfire making him start floating in the air for the rest of the hour.
The Man in the Hat by Jack Rowlands. Fairfax Y7
I stumble through the crowd, bursting with fear at the sudden announcement with only Juliet on my mind. I think to myself that I must get to her before it’s too late and she’s locked in her house for what could be days, months or even years. Nobody knows how long this black death will go on for. And I can’t imagine even hours without her next to me. If this plague isn’t the death of me, her absence will be.
Romeo and Juliet Reimagined by Evie Swingler. Smith’s Wood Y8
All was jet black; the moon shone like a crystalline ball in the fog shrouded sky. The trees towered hauntingly as its small branches feebly sprouted towards the translucent clouds. It was the beginning of January. As I meandered among the fields, overgrown and dry blades of grass violently shook against the earth. whilst bushes had their signature gradient of dark moss to a washed-out sage. It was all so solitary my faint breaths turned to meagre clouds.
Gloriously Oblivious by Isabella Budiana. Erdington Y9