Page 3 - Everyone a Writer Anthology 2021

Welcome to the Everyone a Writer anthology

Thank you to everyone who submitted writing for this anthology. As with previous anthologies, it proved a real
struggle to narrow down over 400 entries to the ones you see published here.

For the ninth time, student artists are published alongside the work of their writer colleagues. The standard of the
artwork was genuinely outstanding and we have included a number of pieces that support the concepts explored
by the written word.

Everyone a Writer was set up in 2012 with one simple idea – that anyone, whatever their age and experience, can
be a writer. In this anthology, you will find work from students of Greenhill, Woodseats, Norton Free and Abbey
Lane Primary Schools. They are published alongside writing from their counterparts at Meadowhead.

We would like to thank everyone who entered and those who continue to support this project. Particular thanks go
to Ms Huff for her support in setting up the anthology and Ms Udall and Ms Webb for their invaluable input with
the Virtual Launch Event. Also thanks to members of staff at Meadowhead School and members of the Trust Board
who supported in shortlisting the entries and choosing the winning writers.

In previous years we have celebrated the launch of Everyone a Writer with a celebratory event where our schools
gather together, students perform their entries and winners are applauded. However, for the last two years now
we have not been in normal circumstances.

Our children have been asked to consider the theme “The Year The World Stopped”, inspired, naturally, by the
Coronavirus outbreak in 2020 that has altered the last year of our lives beyond recognition. Through their writing
they have explored the impact that a global pandemic has had on their young lives—their school years cut short,
rites of passage denied, birthdays passed over without celebration.

But our students have also looked out with empathy and understanding at the impact this last year has had on lives
other than their own—the lives of the elderly, their peers, their teachers, NHS staff and those of other races and
ethnicities. Our children have learned more this year than we could perhaps ever have hoped about global
institutions of oppression; they write of a second Pandemic of inequality, brought to their attention through
enforced and lengthy hours of quiet introspection. They have heard the protests, seen the marches and listened to
the shouts for justice. They understand that this year we were not “all in the same boat”. In lieu of writing about
their own experiences of lockdown, many of our students have chosen to contribute instead to this narrative—they
too ask for change.

Ironically, whilst we returned to school as “usual” in September, the submissions to this anthology were actually
written virtually during our second forced lockdown of the year, where students had to adapt once again to
attending online lessons and managing their own education from their bedrooms.

Many of us will worry that this year will have an unprecedented and immeasurable impact on our young people.

However, I hope that as you read this anthology, and you hear our readers share their entries during the Virtual
Celebration Event, what will resonate are messages of empathy, of resilience, and of hope. Whilst we have all
suffered losses, our children recognize the future that lies in front of them.

Perhaps for them the world hasn't stopped- it’s merely on pause.

We hope you enjoy the anthology.
Ellis Cox, Rebecca Dale, David Sheppard and Tamsin Woodward
Teachers of English, Meadowhead School

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