Literacy news

Have your pupils got The ComiX Factor?

8 Sep 2011

The National Literacy Trust has teamed up with literacy resource providers Renaissance Learning to bring schools The ComiX Factor, an exciting new competition for the autumn term, based on the theme of comics. 

Launching on International Literacy Day, The ComiX Factor is supported by dynamic comic-writing duo The Etherington Brothers, who have given one of their characters, Dorko, to help with the competition. The competition is open to all UK schools. To enter, pupils must either:

• create and draw a new character to act as Dorko’s sidekick, then write a passage of text describing the first meeting between the two characters (primary schools)

or

• complete a Dorko comic strip adventure (secondary schools)

There are some fantastic prizes up for grabs, including a comic-making workshop for the winning pupils and their class, delivered by the Etherington Brothers, and a set of NEO 2 writing tools (worth £695), courtesy of Renaissance Learning. The winner of our secondary competition will also have their entry turned into a professional comic strip by the Etherington Brothers.

Dirk Foch, Managing Director at Renaissance Learning, said:

“At Renaissance Learning we are passionate about accelerating learning and raising literacy standards amongst pupils of all ages and abilities through our Accelerated Reader and NEO 2 products.  We are delighted to once again be working with the National Literacy Trust to bring this exciting creative writing challenge to UK schools, and are very grateful to the Etherington Brothers for all their support in making the competition really special.”

The Etherington Brothers are also excited to be involved in the competition. Robin Etherington said:

“As long-time comic book creators, my brother Lorenzo and I were delighted to be given the opportunity to work with the National Literacy Trust on this new competition. While the illustrated novel is generally perceived as an accepted form of literature, graphic novels or comic books are more often regarded as a very distant, very disreputable, grubby-kneed cousin ... but a cousin with whom everyone secretly wishes to play. The reason being, that a tale told in pictures AND words possesses the unique ability to rise bodily from the page and engage with its audience on both a verbal and a visual level…

…We hope this competition gives a new generation of creators a chance to stretch their creative and storytelling muscles ... whilst having a lot of FUN in the process." 

To be in with a chance of winning, entries must be submitted by post by 5pm on Monday 28 November. Visit The ComiX Factor competition pages to find out more.

Tags: Children, Schools & teaching, Young People

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