'Superb’, ‘beautifully executed’, and ‘heart-felt’ are just some of the fantastic accolades received from our professional judge, Beth Webb, on the entries to the 2024-2045 Literalily Creative Writing Competition! 

The themes selected for this year's creative writing entries were Dining Table, Conserve and Paces and Places and these led to collections of poetry and prose that often perceptively explored some significant issues, such as self-image, national identity, food poverty, and loss.

Our professional judge, Beth Webb, was as impressed as ever: 'Your girls have such creative minds, I am always fascinated and intrigued with what they are going to come up with next!' 

The best poetry pieces were characterised by their 'musicality'. As always, Beth encourages all entrants to read aloud their poems - or have a friend read them to them - to listen out for their rhythmic quality, even if writing in free verse.

Of the prose pieces, the strongest entries had a clear sense of pace, a serious voice but  followed the principle of 'show, don't tell'.

Ultimately, we congratulate Georgina (LVI) this year’s overall winner, for her superb winning entry for the Sixth Form poetry category, ‘His Last Supper’. Beth pronounced it: 'Sinister, builds up tension nicely, excellent pace and a perfect ending.'

The English Department would like to thank everyone for their reflective and thought-provoking pieces – and encourage entries to national competitions throughout the year!

Congratulations to all of our category winners and runners-up:

Fourth Form

Poetry Winner - Sofia V
Poetry Runner Up - Amy C

Prose Winner - Reirei K
Prose Runner Up - Jemima J

Fifth Form

Poetry Winner - Alexandra V
Poetry Runner Up - Alice A

Prose Winner - Sophie O
Prose Runner Up - Atarhe K

Sixth Form

Poetry Winner - Georgina F
Poetry Runner Up - Isla R

Prose Winner - Norah C
Prose Runner Up - Livia d

For the full list of highly commended, runners-up and winners, please click here.

Miss Julie Grant, Editor of Literalily Magazine