The Portico Sadie Massey Awards are now open for submissions.

There are two categories: the Reading Award (Book Review) and the Writing Award (Short Story)

Key Criteria/Information:

• Open to 7 – 18-year-olds (Key Stages 2 – 5)
• Free to enter (a person may enter both the reading and writing competition but only one entry in each)
• Closing date: Midnight, 20th March 2026
• Entries are judged on creativity and individuality and not spelling or grammar
• The entry must be an original piece of work and written by one entrant
• We reserve the right to disqualify any entries we believe to be ChatGPT/AI generated
• Stories may be in prose or verse and set in the past, present or future
• Any images will not be judged as part of the submission
• Winners and Highly Commended are awarded in each Key Stage
• The Presentation event is held in June 2026 in Manchester

Formatting

• All entries must be written in English as they will be judged in English
• No identifying names or school on the entry as entries are judged anonymous.

All stories must be either:
a) Typed and submitted via the PSMA website which includes a submission form which must be filled out in full.
b) Typed or handwritten (in blue or black ink and legible) and either emailed with entry form to psma@theportico.org.uk or posted to The PSMA Competition, The Portico Library, 25 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HY
c) Schools may enter a class using the online school entry spreadsheet and either post entries or send with attached school entry spreadsheet to psma@theportico.org.uk (Entries must be numbered to correspond to numbers on spreadsheet.)

Word count:

Writing Competition:
Key Stage 2 – maximum 800 words
Key Stage 3 – maximum 1000 words
Key Stage 4 – maximum 1,500 words
Key Stage 5 – maximum 1,500 words

Reading Competition
Key Stage 2 – maximum 500 words
Key Stage 3 – 5 – maximum 1000 words

Other information

• The title is not included in the word count
• Due to limited funds, notebooks and bookmarks may only be issued within the UK though certificates can be downloaded from the website
• We are looking for original voices and a personal viewpoint
• Winning and highly commended entries will be published on the PSMA website
• Copyright remains with the author, but the author allows permission for the PSMA to use the short story or book review and credit the author’s name on the Portico Library and PSMA social media, library material and website

Please note:

• In the case of an unprecedented number of entries, first round readings will be made by a panel of appointed readers
• The judges’ decision is final
• The judges and organisers will not enter into any correspondence concerning the competition results

Any further questions: psma@theportico.org.uk
Portico Sadie Massey Awards — The Portico Library