Shine news

As Robert Kennedy said in the 1960s, ‘… we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind…’

Shine Chair Alison Strachan writes: whether you already run a school magazine or not, entering the Shine competition could help to fill the gap left by an absence of summer exams.

There’s an opportunity to record this moment, reporting experiences and making a lasting testament to these strange times.

In view of the strong possibility that schools may be closed in the near future for at least a few weeks, I understand that entering the Shine competition may not be top of your priorities. However, during these exceptional circumstances we will be accepting all entries as pdf files, even if they are unfinished.

These certainly seem like uncertain times: over the last year SO much has happened in our local, national and international worlds, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what your students have to say about it all.

Back to school and I trust you all had a good half term and return to the fray refreshed and raring to go.

If you are looking for something extra this term to include in your English or Media Studies classes, we now have lesson plans free to download.

We’re so pleased to have an update from former Shine ‘Most Outstanding Pupil’ Bill Bowkett. He’s just been offered a place on the Journalism MA at City University. We all offer our congratulations to him.

Bill as been kind enough to write a few thoughts on why being a part of Shine has been so important to him – and could be to this year’s entrants too…