We are thrilled to share the exciting news that Farrah Said in UIV (Year 9) has won the Evening Standard Stories Competition in the Young Adult category.

“Over 500 people entered the inaugural competition and the judging panel was hugely impressed with the range and quality of both the Young Adult and Adult entries. After an exhaustive judging process, twenty shortlisted entrants were invited to the Stories Festival launch party (23 September 2021) where the winners and two runners-up per category were announced to a room full of illustrious guests and industry insiders including Emily Sheffield (Editor, Evening Standard), and head judges Bea Carvalho (Head Fiction Buyer, Waterstones) and Sam Parker (Editor-in-Chief, Penguin.co.uk). ” – Stories Competition

13-year-old Farrah’s story Cooked Sushi was originally a School assignment where she was tasked with writing a story related to food. The judges, including BBC Radio 1 host, Greg James, singer, Will Young, author, Rabina Khan and Evening Standard editor, Phoebe Luckhurst deemed Farrah’s story the winner with prizes including workshop sessions with leading screenwriters or editors, publication of her winning story, and VIP access to the Stories Festival.

Farrah says,

This past year, dealing with COVID and living in isolation for months of end, has allowed me to reflect on this difficult period when my brother was fighting cancer. Putting pen to paper has giving me the opportunity to express my feelings, something I did in my piece Cooked Sushi.

When my parents and I attended the prize giving ceremony, I felt rather overwhelmed being in such a crowded room at a formal event. They called out the two runners up first and this is when I realised I had won. I felt overjoyed but also rather nervous walking on stage in front of so many people. The nerves kicked in again when I was asked to read out my piece to the cameras but once this was over, a wonderful sense of pride filled me.

I would like to thank my parents for supporting me, my wonderful English teach Mr Anderson for pushing to enter this competition and my grand-mother for always believing in me.

Congratulations Farrah – FHS is so proud of you.