Pupils from 34 United Learning primary schools took part in this year’s StorySLAM competition, going head-to-head to be named the best storyteller.  

StorySLAM is an annual competition run by United Learning, open to pupils in Years 5 and 6 across the Group’s academy and independent schools. Modelled on a similar event which started in New York, children write their own short stories to perform in front of their peers, teachers and ultimately a panel of judges. The initiative aims to develop children’s creativity, oracy, and confidence and is part of United Learning’s commitment to giving all children an Education with Character. 

The first stage of this year’s competition began in each of the participating schools when children wrote and performed their original stories before an individual School Champion was crowned. The winners then progressed to one of three regional finals, staged in the South, Midlands and the North, to be in with a chance of taking home the top awards for ‘Overall Winner’, ‘Runner Up’ and ‘Best Line’.   

During the final event, pupils enjoyed participating in a variety of story-writing and performance workshops delivered by children’s author and science writer Isabel Thomas. As part of this, Isabel gave them top tips on how to calm their nerves and deliver confident, assured performances which would engage the audience.  

To celebrate their efforts, the winners were presented with a certificate and a selection of books. The finalists’ stories will now be collated and published in the United Learning StorySLAM 2023 Anthology. A copy of this will be sent to each participating school. 

The winners of the southern StorySLAM final were: 

• Overall Winner – Eva, Surbiton Girls’ Preparatory School 

• Runner Up – Leon, Whittingham Primary Academy 

• Best Line – Amara, Longshaw Primary Academy 

Amara said: 

“I really enjoyed the experience and had a lot of fun! I liked the workshop with Isabel Thomas – it was really helpful and interesting.” 

The winners of the midlands StorySLAM final were: 

• Overall Winner – Jethro, Hanwell Fields Community School 

• Runner Up – Ava, Timbertree Academy 

• Best Line – Yusuf, Corngreaves Academy 

Jethro said: 

“At the start of the StorySLAM competition, I didn’t have much confidence in my writing but the support and encouragement I received from my teachers made me believe in myself.” 

 The winners of the northern StorySLAM final were: 

• Overall Winner – Henley, Worsbrough Bank End Primary School 

• Runner Up – Eva, Lincoln Minster School 

• Best Line – Fiza, Dukesgate Academy 

Henley said: 

“It was so exciting winning for the school, especially as it was the first time we have entered the competition. I was so happy, not just for me but for everyone involved in going to Cravenwood Primary. Everyone did so well and all the stories were amazing. The theme of Science and Nature was also great as it is something I have been interested in from a young age.” 

Alex Pearson, Headteacher at Hanwell Fields Community School, said: 

“The StorySLAM final was a fantastic event to host at Hanwell Fields and an opportunity to showcase the amazing writing within our schools. There was so much enthusiasm, buoyed by the interactions with a professional author, and this came across in the pupils’ work. The judges and I were blown away by the quality of the writing. The concepts, language and grammatical techniques used by the young authors were far beyond what you would expect from writers of their age.” 

Isabel Thomas, children’s author and StorySLAM judge, said: 

“It was an honour to be asked to host and help judge this year’s regional finals, and to meet so many young writers from United Learning schools across the UK. At the launch of StorySLAM 2023, I set pupils a special challenge – to take inspiration from science and nature, seek the hidden stories all around us, and create a story that combined real and imagined worlds. The responses were incredible. Each pupil’s story is a carefully constructed bridge to new worlds, new emotions, and new knowledge. Congratulations to everyone who took part in this fantastic initiative.” 

Darran Ellison-Lee, Director of Primary Education at United Learning, said: 

“We were thrilled to once again deliver this excellent project for pupils across the Group. It was fantastic to see so many pupils take to the stage at the regional finals with smiles on their faces and showcasing such enthusiasm and confidence. Events like these are a key part of our mission to deliver an education with character, providing pupils with the exciting opportunity to improve their writing, gain confidence and meet peers from across the Group’s primary schools. Well done to everyone who took part for coming up with such brilliant stories, and especially to this year’s exceptional winners.”