The deadline for the popular Satips National Handwriting Competition is now July 1st, 2021, to allow as many schools to enter as wish to.
The competition is open to all Prep, Junior and Primary Schools, with the winning school receiving the Nexus Shield, sponsored by the school stationery group. Individual winners and runners up also receive appropriate prizes and all entrants receive a certificate.
The report of the 2020 competition by our chief judge, Amanda McLeod, is published in the Autumn 2020 edition of Prep School Magazine, available online, and contains excellent advice for teachers.
We send out full information on how to enter to schools, but please do not hesitate to contact Paul Jackson, Director of Education on education@satips.org for more information.
Entries close on July 1st 2021 and successful schools will be notified by 5pm on Monday 9th August 2021
PRIZES
A top quality pen and a certificate will be awarded to first and second place in each age group.
All entrants will receive a certificate for taking part (sent electronically to the named teacher.)
The staff winner will also receive a prize.
There are five entry classes:
Class A (6 years and under)
Class B (7–8 years)
Class C (9–10 years)
Class D (11–13 years)
Class E (Staff Prize – open to all school staff)
Poem Selection
Here are this year’s poem selection for the various classes:-
CLASS A (6 yrs and under)
Humpty Dumpty … in Space by Iain Bland
Humpty Dumpty packed up his case
Humpty Dumpty flew off to space
The King’s men called Humpty for all they were worth
But Humpty just wouldn’t
Come back down to Earth!
CLASS B (7-8 yrs)
A child is like a butterfly in the wind by Unknown Author
A child is like a butterfly in the wind.
Some can fly higher than others;
But each one flies the best it can.
Why compare one against the other?
Each one is different.
Each one is special.
Each one is beautiful.
Class C (9-10 YEARS)
It is not growing like a tree by Ben Jonson
It is not growing like a tree
In bulk doth make Man better be;
Or standing long an oak, three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere:
A lily of a day
Is fairer far in May,
Although it fall and die that night—
It was the plant and flower of light.
In small proportions we just beauties see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.
CLASS D (11-13 yrs)
Sir’s a Secret Agent by Tony Langham
Sir’s a secret agent
He’s licensed to thrill
At Double-Oh Sevening
He’s got bags of skill.
He’s tall and handsome
With a muscular frame
Teaching’s his profession
But Danger’s his game!
He’s cool and he’s calm
When he makes a decision
He’s a pilot, sky-diver
And can teach long-division.
No mission’s too big
No mission’s too small
School-children, mad scientists
He takes care of them all.
He sorts out the villains
The spies and the crooks
Then comes back to school
And marks all our books
CLASS E – STAFF
Dear Mr Examiner by Gareth Owen
Thank you so much for your questions
I’ve read them most carefully through
But there isn’t a single one of them
That I know the answer to.
I’ve written my name as instructed
Put the year, the month and the day
But after I’d finished doing that
I had nothing further to say.
So I thought I’d write you a letter
Fairly informally
About what I can see from my desk here
And what it’s like to be me.
Mandy has written ten pages
But it’s probably frightful guff
And Angela Smythe is copying
The answers off her cuff.
Miss Quinlan is marking our homework
The clock keeps ticking away
I suppose to anyone outside
It’s just another day.
I thought your questions were lovely
I’ve only myself to blame
But couldn’t you give me some marks
For writing the date and my name.
