A YOUNG student from Springfields Academy in Calne has been awarded for her original short story.

Shirley Pearce, a Year 6 pupil, has been awarded a certificate in a national competition. Shirley wrote the story while she was in Year 5, and she joined the school in January.

Rebecca Deacon, 27, a primary teacher at Springfields in Curzon Street, said: “At the school we receive a lot of competitions through the post. Traditionally the children who come here have their confidence shot when it comes to reading and writing and we have to build that confidence. When Shirley joined the school in January she barely wanted to pick up a pen, it took months to get her to write.”

After seeing the competition for a 100-word short story, Mrs Deacon decided to help Shirley give it a go.

“Shirley planned a mini saga after we took an image of a fairy living in a tree. She thought out everything. After she sent it off we found out she had been selected for the national award. It is amazing that this young lady, who wouldn’t even pick up a pen, has won. We are ever so proud of her, now it has built up her confidence and she wants to help other children,” continued Mrs Deacon.

When finding out that she had won the competition, Shirley was shocked by the results.

Mrs Deacon added: “When Shirley found out she was really shocked. The certificate was sent to her home so she had the chance to show it to her family. She was very proud indeed. I am also extremely proud of her for the award and for her progress since joining the school. As teachers our lives revolve around the progress of the children and this really does show outstanding progress.”

Springfields Academy teaches pupils who have social and communicative difficulties and/or high functioning autism.