The English Department is delighted to have launched the Ovid in the West Country Competition this week for our Y7 cohort. Run by the Bristol Classics Hub at Bristol University to encourage interest and celebrate the inherent joy of the classical world, it is a super opportunity for pupils at John of Gaunt and across the region to respond creatively to the classical myths studied this term. Students can pick any element of their favourite tale (or indeed the whole tale) and re-tell it in any medium they choose. Whatever their favoured flavour of expression, we would love to see the Y7s strut their creative stuff! Be it through prose or poetry writing, cake making, model making, embroidery, costume making, video, stop-motion animation, Lego, drawing, pottery, painting, woodwork, basket weaving – there is no idea that is out of bounds.
The submission deadline is Tuesday 2nd November and Mrs. Bruton will arrange an exhibition of all entries in the library. Both Mrs. Bruton and Mr. Woodville will judge the top three, and these pupils will be invited to Bristol for the final round of the competition. The Bristol Classics Hub will announce an overall winner for the school and an overall winner for the region. They will be offering prizes and an additional book voucher prize of £250 for the school of the winner. With another £10 and £5 Amazon gift voucher for internal first and second prizes (plus other prizes for runners-up), we are hoping to encourage as many of our Y7 pupils to take part.
I would like to encourage as many pupils from every year group across the school to support the event too. Please do visit the library during the first week after the half-term break and take a moment to enjoy the entries and vote. Ballot slips and box will be placed by the exhibition to cast your votes. There will be a separate prize for the winner of the student choice.
The English department have loved working with the Y7 cohort on the classical myths this term, and they have responded really positively.
Good luck Y7s.